Five of the most colorful and beautiful ocean creatures
When we think of animals, we typically picture the creatures that we have seen or heard about. But there are innumerable living entities that are completely off our visual range. In fact, our water bodies are home to some of the most beautiful creatures, that remain largely unknown to us. Here are five of the most colorful and beautiful ocean creatures.
Christmas tree worm
Resembling a Christmas tree in their shape and color, Christmas tree worms are marine worms that live on tropical coral reefs, around the world. They come in a variety of bright colors, viz. orange, pink, yellow and white. Interestingly, they use their plumes for feeding, by trapping the food in them and then passing it to the mouth.
Blue tang
Remember Dory the fish, from the movie Finding Dory? That's how a blue tang looks like. It is a type of surgeonfish that inhabits the coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific region. They are identified by their bright blue color, oval-shaped bodies and yellow, flag-shaped tails. Furthermore, they are socially active (typically found in pairs and small groups of 10-12) and feed on algae.
Parrotfish
This fish has a beak like that of parrots, hence that name. Parrotfish are long, blunt-headed, deep-bodied, and usually come in bright colors. Interestingly, over the course of their lifetime, parrotfish tend to change their colors and even their gender! Yes, while all parrotfish are born female, some of them convert to males as they grow.
Starfish
Starfish are one of the most colorful and fascinating creatures seen in the oceans. Found in a wide range of colors like grey, red, orange, brown, and blue- they use their color to camouflage to prevent attack from potential predators. However, unlike other fish, they don't have gills or fins. They also have a unique anatomy, with no brain or blood.
Flower hat jelly
This rare creature is found in the waters of southern Japan, Brazil, and Argentina. The striking Flower hat jelly has multicolored tentacles trailing from a translucent, pinstriped bell. But they are not really harmless - they are a predator and carry a sting to attack their prey. Surprisingly, they do not have a brain, bones, heart, and eyes.
