Fish Can Live In Dead Zones

Everything we know is wrong

Every day we seem to get news that disregards previous rules about our existence, proving that life is possible even in the most unexpected places. While that feels like something Gandalf might say, it's actually true; we recently learned that 90% of the planet's carbon is beneath the surface, where a biosphere twice that of our oceans exists. Who even knows what lives there? We've also learned about tiny creatures who can live in the deepest, darkest parts of the oceans as well as in volcanoes, so maybe it's not as surprising to find out that some fish can actually live in dead zones.

Dead zones have very little oxygen, sometimes none at all, and they're a threat to most species. As they increase in streams, rivers and other water sources, they cause damage and loss of life, but scientists are discovering that some fish can actually survive in these areas, which is pretty freaky. Cusk eels, lollipop sharks and grenadiers have been found in areas that are almost oxygen-less, prompting us to wonder how they're actually breathing at all. Who knows how much creatures will continue to evolve to tolerate new conditions?

Have you learned about any weird animal adaptations lately? What are they?

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