His lips aren't the only strange thing about him.
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June 6, 2018
Good morning! Today we have a unusual-looking fish, a dog who's best friends with a brick and a cop who did the sweetest thing for a lost animal.
1. No One Can Believe This Fish Isn't Wearing Makeup
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Not many sea creatures can boast the perfect pout of a Hollywood starlet, but the red-lipped batfish comes pretty close.
The batfish is a favorite among divers exploring the waters around the Galapagos Islands and off the coast of Peru.
It’s unclear why the fish evolved to have such a seductive pout, though some scientists believe that the large, practically fluorescent lips, framed by a blond beard, help the fish attract mates.
The species is pretty special, even by the Galapagos’ standards — the islands have the highest number of plant and animal species not found anywhere else on Earth, and famously inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution.
But the red-lipped batfish’s striking mouth isn’t the only attribute that makes the evolution of this fish unique. An awkward swimmer, the batfish prefers to use his strong pectoral and pelvic fins like legs to “walk” across the ocean’s sandy bottom.
While his lips are an enviable red, the rest of the batfish’s flat body is a brownish-gray color — perfect for blending in with the rubble on the ocean floor.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
When the red-lipped batfish is hungry, all he has to do is find a good spot and secrete a bit of fluid to attract prey. Yep, the batfish isn’t afraid to spritz a little perfume to make himself even more alluring.
A member of the anglerfish family, who are known for “fishing” for their prey, the batfish’s horn-like nose acts as a fishing pole. A fleshy piece on the end of a spine hidden under the batfish's nose can be dangled down to act as “bait,” enticing smaller fish and crustaceans to come closer.
The combination of the batfish’s droopy mouth and long upturned nose can give the impression that the little fish is unimpressed with his surroundings, but he’s not snooty or bored — he’s just waiting for his next meal.
A mature batfish grows to be about 25 centimeters (10 inches), and he's luckily not of much interest to fishermen. One of over 450 unique species of fish who swim in the Galapagos waters, hopefully he'll be strutting along the ocean floors for many years to come.
2. Dog's Best Friend In The Whole World Is A Brick
Photo Credit: Ariana Smoak
Ariana Smoak was driving home from work one day when she saw a dog standing on the side of the street. She quickly pulled over to see if she could help her — and as soon as she did, a bunch of puppies suddenly came out of hiding, all incredibly sickly and in desperate need of help.
The puppies and their mom were dirty and covered in fleas, and Smoak knew she couldn't just leave them there, so she took the whole family home with her and cared for them for weeks. Smoak and her mom raised money to take them to the vet and get them the care they needed, and eventually the mom and her puppies found loving forever homes — all except for one.
“We found homes for everyone but Sunny and we fell in love with him so we ended up keeping him,” Smoak told The Dodo. “I wouldn't change the experience for a thing.”
From the very beginning, Sunny has always been a goofy, lovable dog who just wants to be friends with everyone. He loves playing with his dog siblings and has lots and lots of toys, but his absolute favorite toy is very, very unusual.
Smoak has a rug in her home that kept curling up, so to keep it flat, she placed a brick on the corner of the rug. It was only supposed to be a quick fix — until, for some reason, Sunny fell madly in love with the brick.
“He used to chew and lick it,” Smoak said. “Our other two dogs don't care for it.”
As soon as Sunny discovered the brick, he was absolutely obsessed with it. He played with it whenever he got the chance, and while his family assumed he would eventually grow out of his obsession, he never did.
Photo Credit: Ariana Smoak
“We just realized as he got bigger and bigger that he would lay with it and found comfort being around it, so we just keep that one on the rug for him,” Smoak said. “My mom and I are so used to it being there we don't notice it.”
Now, Sunny still hangs out with his brick buddy all the time. It may seem weird to everyone else, but Sunny and the brick are growing up together, and he couldn’t be happier than when he’s hanging out with his unlikely friend. It may be quirky, but his family loves him and his brick for exactly who they are.
“He's an absolute goofball,” Smoak said. “He's always happy even when he's in trouble. He's super silly.”
3. Couple Sees Cop Standing In Pouring Rain — Then Realizes She's Saving A Life
Photo Credit: Carolyn B. R. Hammett
Earlier this week, Carolyn B. R. Hammett and her husband were driving near their home in Greenbelt, Maryland, on a very stormy afternoon when they spotted something unusual. There, standing firmly in the middle of the rain-drenched road, was a police officer.
She was soaking wet, but smiling the biggest smile.
Hammett was confused at first, thinking the road must be flooded and that the officer was there to alert drivers. But that was not the case.
"As we got closer, we realized that she was standing over something," Hammett told The Dodo.
Nearing the spot, Hammett then discovered that the officer was actually standing over a snapping turtle who, quite unwisely, had chosen to rest in the middle of the street. Given the poor visibility that day, the animal could easily have been run over — if it weren't for his kind protector, of course.
The officer was saving his life.
"I couldn't believe that she was standing there guarding that turtle in all that rain," Hammett said. "Not many people would do that, regardless of their occupation. She was serving and protecting in every sense of the word."
Hammett and her husband pulled over to help, shielding the cop from the rain.
Photo Credit: Carolyn B. R. Hammett
Turns out, the officer had been on her way home from a ceremony when she was alerted to the animal's situation. Since snapping turtles can be dangerous to handle, she had called animal control for assistance, but they had yet to respond. So, she had taken up her post there to protect him in the meantime.
Rather than make the officer wait longer, Hammett hurried home to retrieve two shovels, which she and her husband used to lift the turtle safely off the road.
Their efforts had prevented tragedy for the turtle.
While it was the rescued turtle who had the most to be grateful for, Hammett couldn't help but feel appreciative, too.
"The officer thanked us and we thanked her and we all went on our way," Hammett said. "She was smiling a big broad smile the entire time and she never seemed to care that she was drenched completely through. She was delightful, inspirational, kind, all the things that you think a police officer should be."
The officer's name is Sharnise Hawkins-Graham.
Last October, Hawkins-Graham was named the Greenbelt Police Officer of the Year — a title she clearly deserves for caring even for her city's smallest residents, and inspiring others to do the same.
Guy Quits His Job To Rescue Animals Full-Time
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