L'empreinte du chien noir
Texts with a bite!
A gold mine right under our feet!
The St. Lawrence River needs no introduction, but what about the underwater species that live there? What varieties of fish and other creatures can be found there? The St. Lawrence River, much like the Caribbean and other exotic locations, is no slouch when it comes to the variety of fish species—whether beautiful or ugly, take your pick. Here, we’ll explore five one-of-a-kind fish that stand out from the norm.
The American monkfish, Lophius americanus
There are so many different kinds of fish in the aquatic fauna that sometimes it feels like you’re in a novel, and yet it’s all real. That’s why the first marine creature to discuss is the American monkfish, which has characteristics all its own.
Size
To begin with, one of the things that most captures the imagination is the size of the fish. This brings us to its measurements: it’s a full meter long with plenty of meat, and its tail is even thick enough to resemble a scallop.
(https://www.quebecscience.qc.ca/sciences/10-especes-inusitees-du-saint-laurent/)
Value
It is considered a high-end seafood product in some countries, according to Denis Chabot, a researcher in ecophysiology at Fisheries and Oceans Canada. He studies the environmental impact of various factors on the marine ecosystems of fish from the estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
(https://profils-profiles.science.gc.ca/fr/profil/denis-chabot?wbdisable=true)
Appearance and Defense
This deep-sea fish looks like a big lump of brown jelly with two big yellow eyes, large hook-shaped teeth, lips that look like they've been plumped up with an entire bottle of Botox, small, flat, triangular fins, and a triangular tail.
The scariest part of all this is that it has bait attached to its head like a permanent fishing rod with a piece of malleable flesh.
The Atlantic wolffish (Atlantic wolffish, Anarhichas lupus)
Appearance
The second fish moves up a notch on the monstrosity scale. In fact, this one is red, green, blue, or gray in color; it has very large, swollen lips, big black eyes with brown-green irises, large, sharp, worn teeth; it measures 2 meters long, is quite large, and has a large dorsal fin running the entire length of its body (https://www. quebecscience.qc.ca/sciences/10-especes-inusitees-du-saint-laurent/).
Food
According to the YouTube channel “National Geographic Wild France (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP28wmaAHao),” this gill-breathing creature, although aggressive, gets along well in pairs. However, it turns out that it has one of the most powerful jaws in the animal kingdom. In a video, we see it crush the shell of a crab and a sea urchin with disconcerting ease.
The Japanese goat moth (Caprella mutica)
Appearance
The Japanese caprelle is an amphipod crustacean. It feels as if you’ve stepped into an underwater insectarium. Yet that’s not the case at all. In fact, it looks more like a praying mantis than anything else—one that’s gone on a diet. What’s more, it’s not shy about flaunting its caramel-orange color with a dash of flamboyant red. It has long front legs, a large claw, and a body as slender as a twig, studded with spines. The highlight of the show is that this creature measures a good half a centimeter in length.
Food
However, in contrast to its beauty, this vertebrate’s temperament is the complete opposite. It causes fishermen a great deal of trouble because it has a large claw that allows it to grip its prey firmly. Unfortunately, research shows that most of the time, it is young mussels that have just been harvested that are not only crushed but also devoured without mercy. This is because the claw is also used to cling to anything that resembles small threads, ropes, etc.
Arrival
This crustacean first appeared in Quebec between 2006 and 2008. It reproduces at an unimaginable rate, as evidenced by the phenomenal density of 465,000 individuals per square meter. It was first observed in Chaleur Bay. It can survive at temperatures as low as 2 degrees below zero. (https://www.quebecscience.qc.ca/sciences/10-especes-inusitees-du-saint-laurent/)
The sea feather (Pennatula, Pennatula aculeata)
Appearance
This little-known marvel boasts one of the most beautiful “outfits” in the animal kingdom. Its common name is “the sea feather.” It belongs to the family of cold-water corals, although it bears no resemblance to the corals we are most familiar with. It consists of a long, vertical pink stem that emerges from the ground, with what look like hairy horizontal branches. (https://www.quebecscience.qc.ca/sciences/10-especes-inusitees-du-saint-laurent/)
Nutrition and Immunity
More information comes from the YouTube channel “Amazing Animals.” Since it isn’t the largest, it feeds exclusively on small plankton. Furthermore, it moves with agility and possesses a form of awareness, living in dark or completely pitch-black depths. This sense of the presence of others is enhanced by the bioluminescence produced by certain particles that react to darkness.
As if that weren't enough, it also delivers electric shocks to anyone who might accidentally get too close. You might think that's all there is to it, but it harbors another secret. Whenever it chooses, it literally burrows underground.
Sea lettuce (Néréis, Alitta virens)
Appearance
Measuring 40 cm in length, this fantastic creature—as remarkable for its color as for its purpose—is truly fascinating. It has chosen to display shades of orange, yellow, mauve, blue, and pink as an aquatic caterpillar with at least 30 legs. It has two horns on its bluish head.
Food
To feed, it eats anything it can get its hands on from among the small invertebrates that inhabit the areas where the tide recedes. However, it is not the only one that eats it, since, conversely, it can serve as bait for fishing.
Nevertheless, this tiny marine worm—straight out of the imagination—is also capable of oxygenating sediments, which are minerals that have broken down over time (https://www.actu-environnement.com/ae/dictionnaire_environnement/definition/sediment.php4). Very small organisms can live deep within these sediments, since the oxygen that the creature can infuse into the rock or other materials keeps everything healthy.
Superhemoglobin
Furthermore, this remarkable creature has the ability to sustain life, since the hemoglobin in its blood is compatible with ours. The hemoglobin from this type of worm (extracted by companies such as Hemarina) can carry 40 times more oxygen than human hemoglobin. It is being tested to prolong the viability of transplants (organs) prior to transplantation. This will lead to major advances. (Gemini, Google AI)
A Key Ecological Role
This amazing animal, which scientists refer to as Alitta virens (or green Nereis), is much more than just fishing bait... By burrowing into the soil (bioturbation), this creature helps other microorganisms survive. It is the “lung” of the sediments of the St. Lawrence River. (Gemini, Google AI)
Fish: More Than Just Aquatic Animals
As you may have seen, fish are more than just ordinary creatures that swim around underwater without any particular purpose. Not only do they play a vital role in sustaining various ecosystems, but they can also help humans advance science. All of this despite the occasional inconveniences they may cause simply because it’s in their nature.
Similar Articles
-The Art of Raising Chickens in the City!
Sources
1. The American Monkfish (Lophius americanus)
-
Scientific source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) - Monkfish Fact Sheet.
-
The Quebec Consumer Guide (MAPAQ).
2. The Atlantic wolffish (Anarhichas lupus)
-
Conservation source: Public Registry of Species at Risk - Atlantic Wolf.
-
Behavioral source: The Global St. Lawrence Observatory (OGSL) website
3. The Japanese Caprella (Caprella mutica)
-
Source of the invasion: Ministry of the Environment (MELCCFP) - Invasive Alien Species.
-
The Quebec Sentinel Network
4. The Sea Pen (Pennatula, Pennatula aculeata)
-
Biological source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada research on cold-water corals and sponges.
-
Note on bioluminescence: The work of researcher Jean-François Hamel (an expert on Quebec’s seafloor) serves as a reference for this type of behavior.
5. The Sea Worm (Nereis, Alitta virens)
-
Medical/scientific source: Hémarina.
-
Ecological Source: The Espace pour la vie (Montreal Biodome) website provides a clear explanation of the role of bioturbation (oxygenation of sediments) that you mention.