suzalulu sketch dump over the year/s bc i forget tumblr exists GHWGH

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One of the best ways to hide in the deep sea: Ultra-black skin

Deep-sea animals have a variety of remarkable adaptations to help them hide in the midnight zone. But the fascinating fishes featured in this video have the best strategy to hide from predators and prey in this dark expanse: skin shades among the blackest of blacks known.

While there is no sunlight deep in the ocean, more than 75 percent of deep-sea life can produce light, a process called bioluminescence. When a single photon can blow your cover, ultra-black camouflage keeps these fishes hidden in the wide open darkness and also enables them to sneak up on unsuspecting shrimp or fish for a tasty meal.

Ultra-black fishes have unique structures in their skin that very efficiently trap and absorb light. Melanin—the same pigment found in human skin—is densely packed into super thin layers on the outermost surface of their skin. While most light photons are immediately absorbed, the specific shape, size, and configuration of these melanin layers scatters any missed photons into neighboring skin cells, where they are absorbed. Ultra-black skin absorbs 99.5 percent (or more) of the visible light with virtually none reflected.

The very blackest fishes known in the deep sea are the dreamer anglerfishes (Oneirodes sp.). Anglerfishes have a bioluminescent lure they use to attract a snack. Their ultra-black skin absorbs the bioluminescent glow so as not to reveal the giant mouth just beyond the lure. This incredible skin adaptation has evolved in many other fish species as well.

You can learn more about these amazing animals of the deep on our website.

Mangawhai, New Zealand by Steve Perkins

Galapagos Lava Lizard (Microlophus albemarlensis), family Tropiduridae, sitting on a Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus), family Iguanidae, Fernandina Island, Galapagos

photographs by Rachelle Mackintosh

The Notorious is a replica 15th century caravel. The ship took ten years to build, made entirely from reclaimed timber. She was launched at Martins Point, Port Fairy, Victoria, Australia, on Monday, 7 February 2011.

Evening

by Raymond Carver

I fished alone that languid autumn evening. Fished as darkness kept coming on. Experiencing exceptional loss and then exceptional joy when I brought a silver salmon to the boat, and dipped a net under the fish. Secret heart! When I looked into the moving water and up at the dark outline of the mountains behind the town, nothing hinted then I would suffer so this longing to be back once more, before I die. Far from everything, and far from myself.

«For Fëanor was made the mightiest in all parts of body and mind: in valour, in endurance, in beauty, in understanding, in skill, in strength and subtlety alike: of all the Children of Ilúvatar, and a bright flame was in him. »

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Seems like tumblr is messing up with the image quality again...it looks better when checking out high resolution though

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Etro Fall 2024 Ready-To-Wear

OP: "Have you ever seen the West Lake [in Hangzhou] at 4 am?"

my favourite thing about hannibal as a character is that he operates on fey rules. here is a creature who wants to eat you. open his mouth and you will find lacefine rows of needle-sharp teeth. he’s a ghoulish, antler-clad thing that wears human skin and dances to our tunes.

and i think you know on some level, facing him, that he wants to eat you, so aware of his appetite. but, if you follow his rules, his hospitality; if you are polite and interesting and if you say all the right things… you’re suddenly a precious thing to him. and his love is terrible, but if you have it he will do everything but eat you.

he’ll lather you in blood, he’ll drop his soul-stealing morsels into your mouth. he might even grant you a wish.

Gustave-Max Stevens

Gustave Max Stevens (1871-1946  Belga) -- Le dodici principesse 1899 -- Particolare

@ta2020photography

"Female Northern Harrier performs acrobatic maneuver."

Ambarussa