NATURE IN THE WILD

Nature can be a deadly force in the wild. A scuba diver died in the water, and there's no indication of what caused his death. He could have been killed without leaving any evidence behind. He was probably checking out the bizarre life forms in the Pacific Ocean, but something could go wrong and that could be deadly. Have you ever seen an electric ray? It's called the torpedo and it's massive; it can weigh up to 80 pounds. Unlike other rays that swim with fins, the torpedo propels itself with a stealth bomber-like tail and it has an explosive weapon - it stuns and kills its victims with a powerful electric shock. The victims are caught under a dome of terror then caught in the crossfire of an electrical current that lashes them repeatedly with shocks. For some rays, using its weapon is only part of their routine - when startled by, say, a diver, the torpedo can unleash up to 50 volts, which is enough to electrocute and ruin what was supposed to be a dream vacation. And although they may not look big or powerful on the surface, some killers are disguised as small pretty packages.

Some have skills others have equipment - moire eels hide in rocks and reefs until nighttime when they slink out to hunt. Popping helps them to breathe and makes them look ferocious. Two nostrils draw in water over a highly developed olfactory gland which detects the scent of prey floating by. Here's where the equipment comes in - the outer jaws and seize the fish then a set of inner jaws go to work. Yes, moire eels have not one but two sets of jaws - the second set acts as a claw machine and pulls the food into the eel's stomach. The puffer fish puffs up to double its size. Masterful move! The eel is determined to get his dinner, but it's an exercise in futility. The only way to win this battle is with a third set of jaws. Maybe things will go a little easier for this peacock flounder who's eyeballing a nearby female. He thrusts his pectoral fin high in the air to get her attention, but that can also get the attention of predators. The more he tries, the more she rejects him typically. It's a disastrous state, and about to get worse - a huge snapper is sniffing around luckily. The two flutter around releasing fertilized eggs into the water; then, quickly go back to their separate corners on the seafloor. Legend has it that sea monsters live here in the cold dark waters of the Pacific. This beast is a giant Humboldt squid.

And a flashy pattern to send a clear message to predators to look but don't touch. People tend to ignore the warning which explains the forty thousand cases of lion fish poisonings every year. Symptoms range from severe pain to convulsions and even heart complications, armed with a gaping mouth and voracious appetite.They cockily prowl the reefs for fish and invertebrates the prey is herded into position again a doomed little blue fish. Confused, cornered and consumed then they saunter off to search for their next course. Without a lot of predators to worry about, life's pretty good for these spiky sea creatures. Tube feet wriggle red stalks bristle; those who touch it instantly regret that this is the fire urchin. Like all sea urchins, the fire urchin is an echinoderm. A family of slow and spiny invertebrates other members include sea cucumbers and starfish, in fact a sea urchin's body. Starfish, its plate covered top, has hundreds of spines dotted with poison-filled sacs that burst on contact; if that's not enough they have another defensive weapon. Hidden in their spines jaws they aren't real mouths but they look like these grasping appendages clean collect food and defend with even more poison. This guy is only about eight inches wide but he packs a hefty punch so stay clear of the fiery red ball or you might get burned let's face it this shark looks like a freak what's with the huge flat head and bulging eyes hammerheads may be on the odd side of attractive but they're mysterious fascinating and deadly a huge olfactory