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« Gloat, everyone! | Main | Another hypersensitive Catholic »

Friday Cephalopod: WE HAVE LIFTOFF!

Category: Cephalopods • Organisms
Posted on: May 15, 2009 9:32 AM, by PZ Myers

Ommastrephes bartramii

Via tolweb:

Ommastrephid squids are among the strongest swimmers in the Cephalopoda. Some are commonly known as "flying squid" due to their ability to glide over the ocean surface…

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Comments

Posted by: Anonymous | May 15, 2009 9:37 AM

awesome

Posted by: vespera | May 15, 2009 9:37 AM

Awwwwesome. I want one.

Posted by: azqaz | May 15, 2009 9:42 AM

I love that they even spread and flatten ther tentacles out to increase their hang time. Now to go look up more about them.

Posted by: Caveman73 | May 15, 2009 9:45 AM

Wow! That is so cool. I have never seen them out to sea. I've the flying fish but not the flying squid. Where or what ocean would you see them in? BTW I'm active duty Navy.

Posted by: Multicellular | May 15, 2009 9:49 AM

This so made my day. Totally pegged my awe meter.

Posted by: NewEnglandBob | May 15, 2009 9:49 AM

Couldn't get it to smile for the picture?

Posted by: Hannah | May 15, 2009 9:49 AM

Wow - I totally didn't know they could do that XD

Posted by: Lorkas | May 15, 2009 9:52 AM

Go click the Hovind iPod link. There's now a video with an absurd argument for why the Grand Canyon must have formed during Noah's flood.

Posted by: Greg | May 15, 2009 9:53 AM

That's it we as may well surrender now. They've taken to the skies.

#10

Posted by: Lorkas | May 15, 2009 9:55 AM

@#4

ScienceDirect says that they are in the North Pacific.

#11

Posted by: Knockgoats | May 15, 2009 9:55 AM

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It's Ommastrephes bartramii!

#12

Posted by: SC, OM | May 15, 2009 9:59 AM

That is FANTASTIC. My favorite yet.

#13

Posted by: Magnus | May 15, 2009 9:59 AM

We're f*cked now.

#14

Posted by: TEO | May 15, 2009 10:00 AM

I think this species is Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis

#15

Posted by: squall25 | May 15, 2009 10:03 AM

Quick. Where is the Mega Shark?

#16

Posted by: JJR | May 15, 2009 10:07 AM

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a....flying SQUID?!

#17

Posted by: gillt | May 15, 2009 10:08 AM

The question becomes: What can't cephalopods do?

#18

Posted by: Nerd of Redhead, OM | May 15, 2009 10:08 AM

Is there anything cephalopods won't do?

#19

Posted by: Sven DIMilo | May 15, 2009 10:09 AM

oh-so-cool.
Check the resemblance between the webbed-tentacle shape and a sphinx moth.

#20

Posted by: Stephen Wells | May 15, 2009 10:10 AM

They can fly. There's nowhere to hide any more. Well, Arizona, I guess.

Hmmm. Can we give a squid some hydrogen-production genes so as to produce a floating (flammable) tentacled gasbag? Silent and camouflaged in sky-blue, they drift and ripple through the skies, descending to grasp their prey and lift them skywards to feed. The Tentacled Rapture.

---I probably need less coffee.

#21

Posted by: Larynx | May 15, 2009 10:15 AM

There's clearly a B-movie film right here!
Does anyone know why it can 'fly'?

#22

Posted by: Anon | May 15, 2009 10:17 AM

Up in the air, Junior Squidman...

#23

Posted by: Evolving Squid | May 15, 2009 10:18 AM

Is there anything cephalopods won't do?

As far as we know, they don't strap bombs to themselves and explode in other schools of squids who have different invisible friends.

#24

Posted by: JackC | May 15, 2009 10:20 AM

Too bad. Yesterday, this little cutie could have gotten a pair of nice Hang Time watchs from woot.com for only a couple of bucks.

#25

Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | May 15, 2009 10:22 AM

Holy Shit.

I for one will welcome our flying squid overloards when then take over.

#26

Posted by: Moth Eyes | May 15, 2009 10:29 AM

Larynx: Well, flying fish do it to evade predators, so that seems like a plausible purpose.

#27

Posted by: The Petey | May 15, 2009 10:30 AM

The only thing I can think of is Sally Field

And SQUIDGET as the Flying Nun

#28

Posted by: Chris Davis | May 15, 2009 10:30 AM

Didn't I see one of these on a T-shirt somewhere recently?

#29

Posted by: 2 cents | May 15, 2009 10:32 AM

Yikes! Compare it to a photo of predator drones like the US is using in Afghanistan. Very similar in configuration.

#30

Posted by: ice9 | May 15, 2009 10:32 AM

Amazing photograph.

The trick is getting them to bounce from the flour into the hot oil. Get that licked and you're good to go.

ice

#31

Posted by: PsyberDave | May 15, 2009 10:33 AM

See, this is how squids turn into birds. It is proof of evolution!

#32

Posted by: Sili | May 15, 2009 10:36 AM

Great. I'm never going near water ever again.

Re Ipod: can't we get permanent link somewhere? I keep forgetting to go look for it.

#33

Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | May 15, 2009 10:36 AM

The question becomes: What can't cephalopods do?

Be un-delicious

#34

Posted by: tms | May 15, 2009 10:37 AM

Wagner's, Flight of the Valkyries is now running through my head.

Thanks loads,

#35

Posted by: Matt Heath | May 15, 2009 10:39 AM

I think I speak for many of us when I say "ZOMFFSM!! That squid is fucking gliding!!!1"

#36

Posted by: Knockgoats | May 15, 2009 10:43 AM

Hi, welcome back SC! New machine humming along well?

#37

Posted by: deviljelly | May 15, 2009 10:44 AM

Which direction is it "flying in"? right to left? i.e. backwards?

#38

Posted by: bobxxxx | May 15, 2009 10:45 AM

Perhaps these creatures can glide above the water thanks to natural selection. Their ancestors who could stay out of the water the longest didn't become another animal's lunch. Or maybe god magically gave them this ability.

#39

Posted by: SteveM | May 15, 2009 10:48 AM

Which direction is it "flying in"? right to left? i.e. backwards?

I assume it is flying to the left since that is the direction its water jet would propel it.

What I want to see is whatever was chasing it that scared it enough to lauch itself out of the water.

#40

Posted by: Moggie | May 15, 2009 10:49 AM

#34:

Wagner's, Flight of the Valkyries is now running through my head.

I love the smell of squid in the morning.

#41

Posted by: Glen Davidson | May 15, 2009 10:55 AM

So much for the UFO phenomenon. This even explains the abductions...

Glen D
http://tinyurl.com/6mb592

#42

Posted by: SteveM | May 15, 2009 10:57 AM

Didn't I see one of these on a T-shirt somewhere recently?

Anybody notice that this flying squid only has 6 arms? And people were complaining that the one on the T-shirt only had 6.

#43

Posted by: kamaka | May 15, 2009 10:57 AM

Which direction is it "flying in"? right to left? i.e. backwards?

Look at the water droplets.

Why couldn't I get a cool toy like that when I was a kid?

#44

Posted by: LanceR, JSG | May 15, 2009 11:02 AM

Now if we can just put frickin' lasers on their heads!

1. Flying squid
2. Flying squid with frickin' lasers on their heads.
3. ???
4. WORLD DOMINATION! (and profit!)

#45

Posted by: LadyH | May 15, 2009 11:04 AM

Did this photo get photoshopped? I looks like someone ran it thru the paint daubs filter.

#46

Posted by: SC, OM | May 15, 2009 11:06 AM

Hi, welcome back SC!

Hi! Thanks! (I was so happy to see you'd returned a couple of weeks ago - missed you terribly in some of the political discussions.)

New machine humming along well?

So far! I can't seem to get the battery to lock in place as I assume it should, but other than that I'm loving it.

#47

Posted by: Fred the Hun | May 15, 2009 11:09 AM

It's an adolescent Vorlon having a bit of fun!

Vorlons are still insubstantial beings of light; however they appear to be cephalopods equipped with two rows of tentacles. It is disputed if there is any physical substance left in a Vorlon whatsoever and it is also very unlikely that this is the form to which they originally evolved millions of years ago. Whether the change to such powerful beings was a natural one resulting from reaching a certain level of mental or physical advancement or if it was helped along by technological means is unknown.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vorlon

#48

Posted by: Anonymous | May 15, 2009 11:13 AM

It's. So. Cute.

#49

Posted by: David Marjanović, OM | May 15, 2009 11:19 AM

The question becomes: What can't cephalopods do?

Live in freshwater.

Anybody notice that this flying squid only has 6 arms?

There are actually 8. Follow the link to the source. (Still, 8 and not 10.)

#50

Posted by: Kat | May 15, 2009 11:21 AM

I wonder how you would express "WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" in cephalopod?

....because that's got to be what that little guy is feeling...

#51

Posted by: Kevin Schreck | May 15, 2009 11:28 AM

I didn't know that this species was so colorful. Lovely!

#52

Posted by: uppity cracka | May 15, 2009 11:29 AM

you guys will like this:
http://www.explosm.net/db/files/Comics/Matt/omnipotent-beings-correcting-their-mistakes.png

#53

Posted by: AdamK | May 15, 2009 11:30 AM

Now THAT's transcendent!

#54

Posted by: Sven DIMilo | May 15, 2009 11:34 AM

I see no reason to think that it doesn't have 8 arms + 2 tentacles like all the other decapodiform cephalopods do.

#55

Posted by: meh1963 | May 15, 2009 11:34 AM

> Is there anything cephalopods won't do?

Touch-type. Or fly by instruments only.

#56

Posted by: Tik | May 15, 2009 11:38 AM

My first thought was of the Cuttlefish comic from xkcd. Amazing creatures are everywhere.

#57

Posted by: knathon | May 15, 2009 11:39 AM

And to think some Ommastrephids are 7-foot long, have a temper and are invading into Pacific Northwestern coast of the US

#58

Posted by: Brownian, OM | May 15, 2009 11:39 AM

What's the big deal? My 1.3 average in biology led me to believe all squid fly.

Show me a bird that can run really fast or a reptile that lives in the ocean and maybe then I'll be impressed.

#59

Posted by: Happy Tentacles | May 15, 2009 11:49 AM

I love the flying squid! And it doesn't even need quantum wings to do it! Next step - world domination by the Tentacled Overlords...

#60

Posted by: Tik | May 15, 2009 11:54 AM

There are ten legs in the photo. Distribution in the photo appears to be left to right 1a 2a 1a+1t 1a+1t 2a 1a, where a=arm and t=tentacle. Membranes appear to connect the appendages to the two adjacent appendages. Think of a flattened umbrella.

#61

Posted by: SteveM | May 15, 2009 11:55 AM

There are actually 8. Follow the link to the source. (Still, 8 and not 10.)

Yes, I did before, 6 arms and the 2 tentacles are fused together so I didn't know if they still count as 2 or one, or even if they still work as a tentacle. So is this actually a heptapus?

I see no reason to think that it doesn't have 8 arms + 2 tentacles like all the other decapodiform cephalopods do.

Sven, click on the photo to see that it is not a decapod.

#62

Posted by: Brownian, OM | May 15, 2009 11:55 AM

Is there anything cephalopods won't do?

Sort my whites and colours, apparently.

Look at this. My favourite shirt, ruined. And is this ink?!

[To the Humboldt Squid wearing a maid's uniform]
That's it! Back to the Sea of Cortés with you! And you can forget about ever getting that green card!

Goddamn employment agency told me I was getting a Diablo Rojo--I thought it was some sort of sentient vacuum.

#63

Posted by: shamar | May 15, 2009 11:59 AM

Awesome picture...thanks for posting PZ :-)

#64

Posted by: Pierce R. Butler | May 15, 2009 12:00 PM

Can we have a video of that, please?

Scored with The Ride of the Valkyries?

#65

Posted by: Religion™ Brand Brain Staples | May 15, 2009 12:03 PM

This made my day. Absolutely amazing.

#66

Posted by: Steve_C | May 15, 2009 12:07 PM

I love how the tentacles are posed perfectly for flight. Great color too.

#67

Posted by: Sven DIMilo | May 15, 2009 12:14 PM

I tis a decapodiform, taxonomically (as are all cephalopods except nautilids, octopuses, and the vampire "squid").
If you are counting arms on the illustration of the larva, there is a stubby pair of #5 arms behind the fused tentacles (=#4).

#68

Posted by: Sven DIMilo | May 15, 2009 12:16 PM

...and the tentacles come unfused during ontogeny.

#69

Posted by: Pierce R. Butler | May 15, 2009 12:19 PM

My apologies to earlier commenters on having missed previous Valkyries requests.

On repeated viewing, our flying friend here must also be complimented for such a tasteful color scheme. It's very rare for blue and orange to look good together.

Excuse me, there's a knock at the door...

*is beaten to a pulp by University of Florida cheerleaders*

#70

Posted by: Sven DIMilo | May 15, 2009 12:21 PM

*is beaten to a pulp by University of Florida cheerleaders*

video?

#71

Posted by: John | May 15, 2009 12:26 PM

That's completely awesome. Has anyone ever gotten video of them doing that?

#72

Posted by: RBH | May 15, 2009 12:30 PM

The first time I heard of these critters was when I read Kon Tiki in the 1950s. Thor Heyerdahl described them flying aboard the raft. IIRC, at least one landed on the roof of the raft's shelter, meaning it got on the order of two meters above the water.

#73

Posted by: SC, OM | May 15, 2009 12:33 PM

On repeated viewing, our flying friend here must also be complimented for such a tasteful color scheme. It's very rare for blue and orange to look good together.

I've always thought whoever designed the Frederic Fekkai packaging did a nice job with the combination (OK, so it's more of a terra cotta, but still, it's a cool Mediterranean feel):

http://www.fekkai.com/collection/marine-hair

#74

Posted by: SteveM | May 15, 2009 1:11 PM

I tis a decapodiform, taxonomically (as are all cephalopods except nautilids, octopuses, and the vampire "squid"). If you are counting arms on the illustration of the larva, there is a stubby pair of #5 arms behind the fused tentacles (=#4).

Yes, I was looking at the larva diagram. I stand corrected, thanks, Sven.

#75

Posted by: Pareidolius | May 15, 2009 1:51 PM

Open the cephalopod bay doors HAL.

#76

Posted by: Chant | May 15, 2009 2:10 PM

You'll believe a squid can fly...

#77

Posted by: Strider | May 15, 2009 2:17 PM

Stunningly lovely.

#78

Posted by: SteveM | May 15, 2009 2:24 PM

I tis a decapodiform, taxonomically (as are all cephalopods except nautilids, octopuses, and the vampire "squid"). If you are counting arms on the illustration of the larva, there is a stubby pair of #5 arms behind the fused tentacles (=#4).

Yes, I was looking at the larva diagram. I stand corrected, thanks, Sven.

#79

Posted by: SteveM | May 15, 2009 2:27 PM

Sorry for the double comment. Nothing to do with Scienceblog's famous "black screen of posting delay".

#80

Posted by: Penguin_Factory | May 15, 2009 2:34 PM

What the hell? Is that thing real? 0_o

#81

Posted by: amphiox | May 15, 2009 2:38 PM

That is an amazing picture. It is so brightly colored that for a minute I had to do a double-take, thinking it looked like a plastic model.

Re: Fred the Hun #47, and any other B5 fans out there,
In the one scene shown of a (well two, actually) Vorlon in its natural state (ie not trying hide its appearance somehow), I think it's a toss up as to whether they resemble cephalopods the most, or hydra. Their spaceships, of course, are clearly cephalopod derived (and as organic vessels, they might even BE cephalopods). Perhaps that was the real reason they visited earth at all, all that rest about manipulating genomes and breeding telepaths being so much misdirection.

#82

Posted by: Ragutis | May 15, 2009 2:47 PM

Why should Exocoetidae have all the fun?

That is quite awesome, PZ. And gorgeous to boot. Thanks!

#83

Posted by: RickK | May 15, 2009 3:25 PM

Stupid question from someone who is tentacle-challenged:

Is the "c" in cephalapod hard or soft? Is it "sephalapod" or "kephalapod"?

#84

Posted by: kamaka | May 15, 2009 4:19 PM

sephalopod

#85

Posted by: Ragutis | May 15, 2009 4:35 PM

It's k, like in Krzyzewski.

#86

Posted by: Number8Dave | May 15, 2009 5:01 PM

I think TEO (#14) might be right. This looks a bit slender to be Ommastrephes bartramii. I remember seeing one that we caught while midwater trawling off the west coast of New Zealand (Taranaki) when I was doing my field work on enoploteuthids. It was a massive thing, almost a metre long and very bulky. And blood red - must've been very pissed off.

#87

Posted by: goldra | May 15, 2009 5:10 PM

Wonderful stuff. Symmetry in motion.

#88

Posted by: Tom Foss | May 15, 2009 5:55 PM

It's not often I see a genuine picture that looks so blatantly photoshopped. I guess reality is unrealistic.

#89

Posted by: MadScientist | May 15, 2009 6:49 PM

It's beautiful! I wonder if it tastes good. I thought it was an animal created with a photo editor.

#90

Posted by: Rowan | May 15, 2009 7:27 PM

Breathtakingly beautiful.

#91

Posted by: José | May 15, 2009 7:54 PM

See, this is how squids turn into birds. It is proof of evolution!

If birds evolved from squid, why are there still squid?

#92

Posted by: Blake Stacey | May 15, 2009 7:55 PM

Incidentally. . .

A rather over-the-top mad scientist, the Octopus worked from a big city hospital and plotted world conquest. His appearance might explain his desire to dominate the world; he’s sea-green, with four "suction-cupped weaving tentacles" set above "hideously malformed" legs.

With pictures.

#93

Posted by: amphiox | May 15, 2009 11:03 PM

RickK #83: In the parts where I hail from, the "c" is soft, but I don't presume to speak for all places and languages.

But at any rate, a squid by any other pronunciation would taste just as sweet.

And an Old One by any other feeble attempt at correlation would be just as pitiless.

#94

Posted by: James McCann | May 15, 2009 11:16 PM

I never realized squid were beautiful before.

#95

Posted by: atomjack | May 15, 2009 11:41 PM

"I'm learning to fly, but I don't have wings..."

Yes, I'm currently listening to Pink Floyd.

Given the brain/body ratio, this fella must actually be levitating. Sweet stuff abounds on this site!

#96

Posted by: thiolsulfate | May 16, 2009 12:06 AM

CTHULHU FHTAGN

#97

Posted by: Lee | May 16, 2009 1:33 AM

Ah, memories... squid and flying fish

I once sailed in the TransPac yacht race from southern California to Hawaii in a 40' sailboat.

Once we got down into the tropics, flying fish were common - the pressure wave at the bow would startle them into flying, presumably to get away for the large predator' our boat felt like. In the day, they would generally fly directly away form the boat - but at night, they seemed to be attracted to the boat, perhaps from instrument lights or moonlight, glinting off the sails. We would find them when they flew into the sails and then fell into the boat.

We never saw a squid in the day - but at night, they seemed to be at the surface, and reacted the same as the flying fish. We would sometimes collect a couple dozen from the cockpit - usually after we found them by putting a hand on one, is stepping on it with our sea boots and sliding across the deck. Little guys, 3- 5" long, but they jumped and 'flew' well enough to come aboard in decent numbers,for several nights in a row.

At one 2 am watch change, the watch captain carried a handful of small squid when he went below to wake the next watch, and dropped one squid into each sea boot as he was doing it. Squish. Obscenities. Good times.

That same night, I was on helm when a pair of flying fish bracketed my head, one on each side within a foot of me. Those guys move really fast - it would have really hurt if they hit me. About 10 minutes later, a squid hit me in the side of the face - thought at first it was a flying fish, and it scared the bejeebers out of me.

#98

Posted by: Bart B. Van Bockstaele | May 16, 2009 2:56 AM

This is a beautiful animal. So colourful, it looks like it's made of glass.

Nevertheless, I can't help but wonder why it isn't swimming in garlic butter on my plate right now.

#99

Posted by: Gorogh | May 16, 2009 4:22 AM

This of course reminds me of the famous line,

Oh what fun
Cthulhu fhtagn
Cthulhu fhtagn
All will chant as he rises

Sing with glee
Tekeli-li
Tekeli-li
In our cultish disguises

#100

Posted by: pra | May 16, 2009 9:02 AM

that's awesome. I wonder they will evolve active flying some day. Maybe with some kind of biological jet engine, powered by modified ink glands? :D

#101

Posted by: Fred the Hun | May 16, 2009 9:13 AM

I wonder they will evolve active flying some day. Maybe with some kind of biological jet engine, powered by modified ink glands? :D

If you ever see them in their natural habitat hovering, darting etc... you will understand that that is exactly what they do. Its just that the fluid is liquid not gaseous.

#102

Posted by: Fred the Hun | May 16, 2009 9:15 AM

Except for the modified ink glands...

#103

Posted by: Aerik | May 16, 2009 7:03 PM

Looks like a fishing lure. Mwa ha ha.

#104

Posted by: Sven DiMilo | May 16, 2009 7:15 PM

"I'm learning to fly, but I don't have wings..." Yes, I'm currently listening to Pink Floyd.

isn't that Tom Petty though?

#105

Posted by: Menyambal | May 16, 2009 8:57 PM

Beautiful!

I remember the first and only time I ever saw flying fish, but I never imagined flying squidlets. Wow.

I thought at first that leaping into the air would expose the little guys to bird attacks, but I bet they catch the birds by surprise. (Reminds me of a thought while reading about Edicarian life--at that early stage of evolution, being up against the water's surface was a good idea, as there was NOTHING above the water.

_Learning to Fly_ is Floyd.

#106

Posted by: Sven DiMilo | May 16, 2009 9:00 PM

Learning to Fly
Learning to Fly

#107

Posted by: astrounit | May 17, 2009 2:14 AM

OH, man, I very nearly missed this one!

I've been wanting to see a decent picture of one of those legendary critters in gliding flight for over 40 years after I first heard about them!

For a few decades there I was beginning to think the tales a little exaggerated...even after examing some specimens that, sure enough SEEMED to have the accroutrements, although the winged airfoil action of the WEBBED TENTACLES - in ADDITION to the fins on the mantle - never quite gelled in my mind how they would be deployed so BEAUTIFULLY LIKE THAT!!!

If I had visualized anything NEARLY resembling anything like what I'm now looking at right now, I would have dismissed it as a fantasy.

I
am
KNOCKED
RIGHT
OUT.

I mean, I can't even get over how it arranges its tentacles to shed water efficiently...NOW I can see what's going on....

POSITIVELY GORGEOUS.

Thank you PZ for scaring this one up for us!

Absolutely stunning. Now I KNOW some squids DO take to the air, and with MAGNIFICENT AERODYNAMIC GRACEFULNESS (instead of merely jumping out of the water).

#108

Posted by: sarah | May 17, 2009 9:51 AM

have you ever heard of the tree octopus it has a website but it is so fake but this is so cool and real!!!!!!!!!!!!

#109

Posted by: a lurker | May 17, 2009 3:32 PM

Time for a "Friday" creationist: Todd Wood mentions sometime he likes to eat. Also he keeps up is "Sadly, an Honest" reputation with his comment on a recently discovered transitional fossil.

#110

Posted by: Sven DiMilo | May 17, 2009 3:48 PM

You said it, sarah!
Take a look at the archives--every Friday there's another more-or-less equally cool animal posted.

#111

Posted by: Sven DiMilo | May 17, 2009 4:05 PM

From Todd's Blog (linked in #109):

Why all the similarity in creation? Why do I have proteins significantly similar to those of bacteria? Whence the "vertebrate archetype?" I think God wants us to know something about Him, but I can't quite see what it is. Sometimes this question is frustrating because I haven't yet figured out how to ask the right question. I think I'm close to an answer, but then... not. Like I'm hovering on the verge of eureka. It's hard to explain....Figure that one out and the answers to most of our other questions will just fall into our laps. We'll be able to see what the created kinds are and how to recognize them. We'll instantly see the places where creation went "wrong" and that will tell us how it happened. Knowing the created kinds will make biogeography semi-intelligible. And chimps - we'll know why God made chimps (and Australopithecines, but I'd just be happy understanding the chimp genome).
So in the end, I guess I'm searching for the voice of God, the words He etched into creation.

or...hmmmmm. If only there was a simple, straightforward explanation that was consistent with all of the physical evidence. But what single idea could possibly be the answer to all those questions?

It's a real puzzler.

#112

Posted by: Nerd of Redhead, OM | May 17, 2009 4:11 PM

Right Sven, science uses evidence. The intellectually challenged add in their presupposed god and think they have made a breakthrough that the scientists refuse to see. Todd must demonstrate the physical evidence for his god first. I'll bet he just can't see the need to show evidence.

#113

Posted by: a lurker | May 17, 2009 7:42 PM

I submitted the following to Fark.com:

(Sadly an Honest Creationist)
Weird
Creationist "biologist" charged up by God's grace, the smell of rain, and eating grilled octopus. Wonders "Why do I have proteins significantly similar to those of bacteria?" If only some theory covered that

I would have loved to have it as some theory that could explain the similarities and differences between different types of organisms but that would have made the headline too long. (And also one of my pet peeves is always mentioning that evolution can explain similarity without mentioning it can explain the who pattern of both similarities and differences. The common creator might explain some similarities, but not the who tapestry.

#114

Posted by: a lurker | May 17, 2009 7:43 PM

The last two words of my last comment should be "whole tapestry" and not "who tapestry". Sorry about that.

#115

Posted by: numba-1-stunna | May 18, 2009 4:19 AM

OMG that pic is so obv fake

#116

Posted by: Arid | May 19, 2009 8:03 AM

What an amazing photo!

#117

Posted by: Mark | May 25, 2009 3:38 PM

I saw flying squid two trips out of Marathon Key, Florida in 2008. They were starting to show up in about 800 ft of water. I had never seen them before, and my first reaction was "Man thats a weird flying fish! wait a minute.."

#118

Posted by: Anonymous | May 28, 2009 1:47 PM

omgosh what is that? is it flying out of the water this is a wierd creature

#119

Posted by: leah | June 8, 2009 9:54 AM

guess what what my dad worksd with octopuses he an expert with them and i have one in ma garden ha ha u suckers

#120

Posted by: Patch | July 15, 2009 5:23 PM

The flying squid invade La Jolla Coves last week. They were warning divers to be aware of their presents. They are running in schools of 20 or more, are 4 feet long, and weigh up to 30 lbs. How would you like one of those stuck in your snorkel.

A couple years ago we were invaded by the flesh eating squids (Humbolt Squids). I guess squids like the SD weather.

#121

Posted by: Patch | July 15, 2009 7:35 PM

The flying squid invaded La Jolla Coves in San Diego last week. They were warning divers to be aware of their presents. They are running in schools of 20 or more, are 4 feet long, and weigh up to 30 lbs. How would you like one of those stuck in your snorkel.

A couple years ago we were invaded by the flesh eating squids (Humbolt Squids). I guess squids like the SD weather.

#122

Posted by: omfg | November 19, 2009 10:18 PM

nuke it from orbit.

it's the only way we can be sure.

#123

Posted by: Adam Stone | December 4, 2009 4:16 AM

good information! would any of your readers be interested in, a professional, quality, DIVING FLASHLIGHT ?