Nature Is Weird | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Nature Is Weird

Bizarre Creature Found In The Mediterranean

40
Nature Is Weird
National Geographic

The Earth is truly an amazing place. I am not talking about this from the "humans are amazing" perspective, but a naturalistic one. This world is full of beautiful forests and jungles filled with equally beautiful wildlife. There are towering mountains that stand above all and canyons that offer sublime views. However, the part of the Earth that holds true majesty that puts everything else on this little blue marble to shame is the ocean.

About seventy percent of the Earth's surface is water. I widely known fact, yes, but a less known fact is that humans have only explored five percent of the Earth's oceans. We, the beings that have sent a man to the moon and sent multiple probes out into space in order to document the other eight planets that make up out solar system, have barely explored our own world. There is no telling how many secrets the oceans still hold beneath its waters. Heck, new creatures are still popping up left and right. From the blobfish to the jawfish the ocean is constantly surprising us with new and exotic looking creatures, but there is one that I never thought could exist and it is not the Loch Ness Monster. I am talking about a two-headed shark.

Now there have been a few Sci Fi movies where there are completely unrealistic sharks that go out of their way to kill humans. If I recall there have been a couple regarding sharks that have multiple heads, but I never thought that such a creature could exist outside of the sliver screen. Needless to say that when I heard of such creatures having been found in Mediterranean waters.

A group of scientists from Spain found an Atlantic sawtail catshark embryo that they reported to have two heads complete with two sets of eyes, two mouths, two separate gill openings, two stomachs, and two brains. Meaning each head can act independently from the other. This is known as dicephaly, the condition in which an animal is born with two heads. It is a rare trait that has been recorded in snakes, dolphins, and even people and so far there have been seven separate cases where a two-headed shark has been found.

Now, for those that fear that we are going to have monstrous two-headed man-eating sharks, there is nothing to fear. Scientists report that animals that are born with dicephaly are not known to live to adulthood. That being said, scientists are baffled by this phenomenon. There is no known reason for this trait to occur, but, rest assured, scientists will soon find an answer to this oddity.


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

629
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

394
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

199376
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

20374
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments