The fluorescent chain cat shark I saw while snorkling

I've never seen one of these critters before here in the Florida Keys. I was in about 100 feet of water with reefs around and this critter just appeared from nowhere. Rather small and none aggressive but very beautiful, it actually was "glowing" somewhat it seemed.

Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

 

Log in or Sign up to hide all adverts.

Great shot CT !

Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

 

Log in or Sign up to hide all adverts.

Awesome picture cosmic, always amazed at what's lurking a very short distance under the water.

That reminds me, haven't been to the Sea Life Centre in ages...that'll go on my to do list!.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide all adverts.

Wow, cool. O_O I wonder what's the best cam to use under water...a cam of course, that doesn't cost too much. D:

 

Is that your photo Cosmic?
Awesome.
Now tell me why the thing's called a cat

Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

 

I'm sorry, I did NOT take that photo. I only posted it so that everyone would know what it looks like.

Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

 

Aw. And I was just thinking how lucky you'd been to see one when you had a camera handy.
Bet you're kicking yourself.

 

Aww, well, must have been a pretty outstanding experience.

Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

 

I've seen many sharks as well as other critters here, like the giant manta ray that had about a 25 foot wing span! I've not seen one of them in a very long time and it was many many years ago that I did.

 

It is called a cat because it belongs to the cat shark family. The irony is that many in this family are also called dogfish!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catshark

It is a family of small and generally very skinny sharks. I have seen other cat sharks in Australia.

 

Looks camouflaged.
Do they hunt like cats, by hiding themselves and pouncing?

 

They push sea urchins around with their noses, they chase ratfish all over , playing with them until they die, they like to hide in a cave and
pounce" on whatever swims by...as long as it isn't bigger than them!

Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

 

I realise you are kidding, but there are fish called ratfish.
Very pretty too, but I slightly prefer the psychedelic cat shark.
Or perhaps not. Not sure.
Must tell spud about this site, he spends half his time in the ocean, lucky arse.

Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

Oh No, not Spud again

 

Questioning authenticity of Goliath Sea Turtle...

Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

 

Well done Cosmic!! Great picture.

 

From my previous post....

I'm sorry, I did NOT take that photo. I only posted it so that everyone would know what it looks like.

 

Oops, my bad, didn't see that other post.

 

Wait, you were snorkeling in 100 feet of water? Or SCUBA diving?

Anyway, that's a very cool looking shark, and I'm quite envious that you got to encounter one in the wild.

 

Daaamn! That turtle is huge!

OT: Nice picture

Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

Nature is beautiful

Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

 

Pfft, provide it's enough to actually move in you can snorkel in any depth of water.

Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

Nobody says you have go all the way to the bottom!

The last time I went snorkelling I didn't realise (due to the totally unusual clarity of the water - me being used to the North Sea/ English Channel for open water) that it was ~10 metres deep.
It took three days for my ears to "pop" back to normal after I retrieved some interesting shells off the bottom...

Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!