Comments on: The fish of nightmares http://boingboing.net/2013/03/21/the-fish-of-nightmares.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 23 May 2013 01:26:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Puck SR http://boingboing.net/2013/03/21/the-fish-of-nightmares.html#comment-1685798 Puck SR Fri, 22 Mar 2013 17:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=220185#comment-1685798 Sheepshead need those teeth because they eat a lot of things like crab, barnacles, shrimp, etc.  (hard things).   I catch them all the time.  They can be eaten, but they can also snap a hook with their teeth. These are exceedingly common fish. You will find them all along the atlantic(if memory serves)   Maybe next someone could post how they have these fish that look like cats, call them catfish. If you want to catch one to look at them, and you live near the ocean, just go throw a dead shrimp near some rocks, pier, etc.  Make sure it is relatively deep(over 10 ft).  You will catch one.  They can get rather large, I have caught them weighing 24+ inches long.  Don't worry about hurting them.  Considering that their mouth has evolved to eat calcium shells, an occasional hook poking it isn't going to matter much. Sheepshead need those teeth because they eat a lot of things like crab, barnacles, shrimp, etc.  (hard things).  

I catch them all the time.  They can be eaten, but they can also snap a hook with their teeth.

These are exceedingly common fish. You will find them all along the atlantic(if memory serves)   Maybe next someone could post how they have these fish that look like cats, call them catfish.

If you want to catch one to look at them, and you live near the ocean, just go throw a dead shrimp near some rocks, pier, etc.  Make sure it is relatively deep(over 10 ft).  You will catch one.  They can get rather large, I have caught them weighing 24+ inches long.  Don’t worry about hurting them.  Considering that their mouth has evolved to eat calcium shells, an occasional hook poking it isn’t going to matter much.

]]> By: L8 http://boingboing.net/2013/03/21/the-fish-of-nightmares.html#comment-1685770 L8 Fri, 22 Mar 2013 17:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=220185#comment-1685770  Why yes, the Tom Cruise shark. Such a majestic creature.  Why yes, the Tom Cruise shark. Such a majestic creature.

]]> By: millie fink http://boingboing.net/2013/03/21/the-fish-of-nightmares.html#comment-1685618 millie fink Fri, 22 Mar 2013 16:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=220185#comment-1685618 Imagine how much less popular fishing would be if fish could scream. Imagine how much less popular fishing would be if fish could scream.

]]> By: xkot http://boingboing.net/2013/03/21/the-fish-of-nightmares.html#comment-1685383 xkot Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=220185#comment-1685383 Thanks for the reply. It's stuff like this that makes me think that if life arises on planets similar to Earth, it might at least have structural and functional similarities to life here. Thanks for the reply. It’s stuff like this that makes me think that if life arises on planets similar to Earth, it might at least have structural and functional similarities to life here.

]]> By: Dlo Burns http://boingboing.net/2013/03/21/the-fish-of-nightmares.html#comment-1685269 Dlo Burns Fri, 22 Mar 2013 11:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=220185#comment-1685269 Something I recently learned was that cream of tartar is unrelated to any sort of milk products and is an acid crystal extracted from wine and grapes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_bitartrate Something I recently learned was that cream of tartar is unrelated to any sort of milk products and is an acid crystal extracted from wine and grapes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_bitartrate

]]> By: Beanolini http://boingboing.net/2013/03/21/the-fish-of-nightmares.html#comment-1685258 Beanolini Fri, 22 Mar 2013 10:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=220185#comment-1685258 Another possibility is that they're a structure that predates teeth, and that has survived in fish. Pharyngeal (throat) teeth in fish <a href="http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/Research/ResearchResults/InterviewsOHR/Cichlids.htm" rel="nofollow">may have evolved before jaws</a>. I don't know if any of the teeth in the picture are pharyngeal teeth (which are apparently made from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enameloid" rel="nofollow">enameloid</a>, like fish scales, rather than enamel, like 'proper' teeth), but a friend of mine dug up a set of pharyngeal teeth once that looked much like the rear 'bed' of teeth. It was a triangle of bone studded with tiny white domes, and it took him years to find out what it was. Another possibility is that they’re a structure that predates teeth, and that has survived in fish. Pharyngeal (throat) teeth in fish may have evolved before jaws.

I don’t know if any of the teeth in the picture are pharyngeal teeth (which are apparently made from enameloid, like fish scales, rather than enamel, like ‘proper’ teeth), but a friend of mine dug up a set of pharyngeal teeth once that looked much like the rear ‘bed’ of teeth. It was a triangle of bone studded with tiny white domes, and it took him years to find out what it was.

]]> By: nobodyinparticular http://boingboing.net/2013/03/21/the-fish-of-nightmares.html#comment-1685241 nobodyinparticular Fri, 22 Mar 2013 09:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=220185#comment-1685241 Those teeth _have_ to trigger the weird pod-phobia thingie the Internet was talking about a few weeks back. The one about lotus seeds and baby toads hatching out of the parent's back. Those teeth _have_ to trigger the weird pod-phobia thingie the Internet was talking about a few weeks back. The one about lotus seeds and baby toads hatching out of the parent’s back.

]]> By: cepson http://boingboing.net/2013/03/21/the-fish-of-nightmares.html#comment-1685193 cepson Fri, 22 Mar 2013 05:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=220185#comment-1685193 If I recall correctly (it was a long time ago), a sheepshead was the first fish I ever caught that was worthy of cleaning and cooking. My dad gutted it and fileted it. It wasn't an especially big one and rendered a few morsels that tasted great when fried. I suspect he would have thrown it back if he had caught it. The great thing about them is that they can be caught close to shore, so a kid with a cheap rod and reel can catch one off a bulkhead using old, dead shrimp for bait. If I recall correctly (it was a long time ago), a sheepshead was the first fish I ever caught that was worthy of cleaning and cooking. My dad gutted it and fileted it. It wasn’t an especially big one and rendered a few morsels that tasted great when fried. I suspect he would have thrown it back if he had caught it.

The great thing about them is that they can be caught close to shore, so a kid with a cheap rod and reel can catch one off a bulkhead using old, dead shrimp for bait.

]]> By: Kent Snelson http://boingboing.net/2013/03/21/the-fish-of-nightmares.html#comment-1685131 Kent Snelson Fri, 22 Mar 2013 02:38:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=220185#comment-1685131 Do sheepshead have a sheepshead tooth fairy? Those guys could make a killing just in overnight change$$$ Do sheepshead have a sheepshead tooth fairy? Those guys could make a killing just in overnight change$$$

]]> By: Crashproof http://boingboing.net/2013/03/21/the-fish-of-nightmares.html#comment-1685056 Crashproof Fri, 22 Mar 2013 00:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=220185#comment-1685056 I recall sheepshead from my childhood.  But my dad always did the cleaning and I never saw the teeth.  That would have been some serious nightmare fuel. I recall sheepshead from my childhood.  But my dad always did the cleaning and I never saw the teeth.  That would have been some serious nightmare fuel.

]]> By: K-9 http://boingboing.net/2013/03/21/the-fish-of-nightmares.html#comment-1685055 K-9 Fri, 22 Mar 2013 00:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=220185#comment-1685055 This fellow has something of the Innsmouth Look about him. This fellow has something of the Innsmouth Look about him.

]]> By: agonist http://boingboing.net/2013/03/21/the-fish-of-nightmares.html#comment-1685029 agonist Thu, 21 Mar 2013 23:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=220185#comment-1685029 I caught a sheepshead fish once while on a deep sea fishing trip. As it came out of the water, I was horrified when a deckhand suddenly gaffed the fish, then used a pair of pliers to break off the long "dog teeth" so he could pull out the hook without getting bitten, and then dumped it in a burlap bag on deck so it could slowly suffocate to death. I was a kid at the time and was not expecting that level of violence. I have never gone fishing since. I caught a sheepshead fish once while on a deep sea fishing trip. As it came out of the water, I was horrified when a deckhand suddenly gaffed the fish, then used a pair of pliers to break off the long “dog teeth” so he could pull out the hook without getting bitten, and then dumped it in a burlap bag on deck so it could slowly suffocate to death. I was a kid at the time and was not expecting that level of violence. I have never gone fishing since.

]]> By: xkot http://boingboing.net/2013/03/21/the-fish-of-nightmares.html#comment-1684980 xkot Thu, 21 Mar 2013 22:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=220185#comment-1684980 Well, I read the whole article, and I'm still not sure -- are they teeth-teeth, like a mammal's teeth, with the same kind of enamel, dentin, pulp, nerves, etc., or are they just remarkably similar looking parallel-evolution structures? Well, I read the whole article, and I’m still not sure — are they teeth-teeth, like a mammal’s teeth, with the same kind of enamel, dentin, pulp, nerves, etc., or are they just remarkably similar looking parallel-evolution structures?

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/03/21/the-fish-of-nightmares.html#comment-1684969 Antinous / Moderator Thu, 21 Mar 2013 22:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=220185#comment-1684969 Uncle, already! Uncle, already!

]]> By: goopy http://boingboing.net/2013/03/21/the-fish-of-nightmares.html#comment-1684954 goopy Thu, 21 Mar 2013 22:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=220185#comment-1684954 Damn, this set of teeth are screaming for dental appointment.  Damn, this set of teeth are screaming for dental appointment. 

]]> By: gumbowing http://boingboing.net/2013/03/21/the-fish-of-nightmares.html#comment-1684949 gumbowing Thu, 21 Mar 2013 22:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=220185#comment-1684949 At least they're tasty and don't give you terrifying hallucinations like the Salema  Porgy mentioned in the article. Yeesh! Screaming animals and giant spiders along with your fish dinner? No thanks! At least they’re tasty and don’t give you terrifying hallucinations like the Salema  Porgy mentioned in the article. Yeesh! Screaming animals and giant spiders along with your fish dinner? No thanks!

]]> By: Boundegar http://boingboing.net/2013/03/21/the-fish-of-nightmares.html#comment-1684928 Boundegar Thu, 21 Mar 2013 21:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=220185#comment-1684928 You monster! You monster!

]]> By: Shibi_SF http://boingboing.net/2013/03/21/the-fish-of-nightmares.html#comment-1684923 Shibi_SF Thu, 21 Mar 2013 21:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=220185#comment-1684923 Perhaps, too much information, but "Tar-Tar" has also been a nickname of mine.  Perhaps, too much information, but “Tar-Tar” has also been a nickname of mine. 

]]> By: Dlo Burns http://boingboing.net/2013/03/21/the-fish-of-nightmares.html#comment-1684920 Dlo Burns Thu, 21 Mar 2013 21:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=220185#comment-1684920 More teeth than the Osmond family.  More teeth than the Osmond family. 

]]> By: Dlo Burns http://boingboing.net/2013/03/21/the-fish-of-nightmares.html#comment-1684919 Dlo Burns Thu, 21 Mar 2013 21:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=220185#comment-1684919 heh, tartar heh, tartar

]]> By: Shibi_SF http://boingboing.net/2013/03/21/the-fish-of-nightmares.html#comment-1684911 Shibi_SF Thu, 21 Mar 2013 21:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=220185#comment-1684911 This sheepshead fish makes me want to brush with an extra tartar control whitening toothpaste that hopefully prevents extra rows of molars.  This sheepshead fish makes me want to brush with an extra tartar control whitening toothpaste that hopefully prevents extra rows of molars. 

]]> By: Dimitrios Papagiannis http://boingboing.net/2013/03/21/the-fish-of-nightmares.html#comment-1684884 Dimitrios Papagiannis Thu, 21 Mar 2013 21:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=220185#comment-1684884 I sent this to my friend who teaches at a Dentist School I sent this to my friend who teaches at a Dentist School

]]> By: Dredd Blog http://boingboing.net/2013/03/21/the-fish-of-nightmares.html#comment-1684876 Dredd Blog Thu, 21 Mar 2013 21:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=220185#comment-1684876 When I first saw it I thought it was a fish from a pond or river near Fallujah, Iraq. Their birth defects are 14 times higher than after Hiroshima and Nakisaki. Lots of cyclops, two headed babies, etc. (Depleted Uranium). http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/2013/03/searching-for-lost-iraq-war-memories.html When I first saw it I thought it was a fish from a pond or river near Fallujah, Iraq.

Their birth defects are 14 times higher than after Hiroshima and Nakisaki.

Lots of cyclops, two headed babies, etc. (Depleted Uranium).

http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/2013/03/searching-for-lost-iraq-war-memories.html

]]> By: glamaFez http://boingboing.net/2013/03/21/the-fish-of-nightmares.html#comment-1684871 glamaFez Thu, 21 Mar 2013 21:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=220185#comment-1684871 I should have such teeth. I should have such teeth.

]]> By: doomcake http://boingboing.net/2013/03/21/the-fish-of-nightmares.html#comment-1684863 doomcake Thu, 21 Mar 2013 21:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=220185#comment-1684863 Sheepshead are delicious and relatively easy to clean- those teeth are pretty unnerving at first though. Sheepshead are delicious and relatively easy to clean- those teeth are pretty unnerving at first though.

]]> By: Ian McLoud http://boingboing.net/2013/03/21/the-fish-of-nightmares.html#comment-1684858 Ian McLoud Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=220185#comment-1684858 Some people pass on eating things with eyes. Some people pass on eating things with human teeth.  Some people pass on eating things with eyes.

Some people pass on eating things with human teeth. 

]]> By: xzzy http://boingboing.net/2013/03/21/the-fish-of-nightmares.html#comment-1684850 xzzy Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=220185#comment-1684850 Seems like a ready made source of dental implants! Seems like a ready made source of dental implants!

]]> By: fuzzyfuzzyfungus http://boingboing.net/2013/03/21/the-fish-of-nightmares.html#comment-1684847 fuzzyfuzzyfungus Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=220185#comment-1684847 Eat them? I can't quite tell if those ghastly nodules look more like some horrible ossified malignancy, or like some dreadful dermal infection with lots of pustules... Eat them? I can’t quite tell if those ghastly nodules look more like some horrible ossified malignancy, or like some dreadful dermal infection with lots of pustules…

]]> By: splashu http://boingboing.net/2013/03/21/the-fish-of-nightmares.html#comment-1684844 splashu Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=220185#comment-1684844 Finally a friend for these poor sharks. Finally a friend for these poor sharks.

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