December 19th, 2012 
On the first day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
My own private ROV
On the second day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Two turtles love, and
My own private ROV
On the third day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Three sea pens
Two turtles love, and
My own private ROV
On the fourth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Four giant squid
Three sea pens
Two turtles love, and
My own private ROV
On the fifth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
FIVE. GOLD. LING!
Four giant squid
Three sea pens
Two turtles love, and
My own private ROV
On the sixth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Six corals laying
FIVE. GOLD. LING!
Four giant squid
Three sea pens
Two turtles love, and
My own private ROV
On the seventh day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Seven sardines swimming
Six corals laying
FIVE. GOLD. LING!
Four giant squid
Three sea pens
Two turtles love, and
My own private ROV
On the eighth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Eight mahi mahi
Seven sardines swimming
Six corals laying
FIVE. GOLD. LING!
Four giant squid
Three sea pens
Two turtles love, and
My own private ROV
On the ninth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Nine Spanish dancers
Eight mahi mahi
Seven sardines swimming
Six corals laying
FIVE. GOLD. LING!
Four giant squid
Three sea pens
Two turtles love, and
My own private ROV
On the tenth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Ten mantas leaping
Nine Spanish dancers
Eight mahi mahi
Seven sardines swimming
Six corals laying
FIVE. GOLD. LING!
Four giant squid
Three sea pens
Two turtles love, and
My own private ROV
On the eleventh day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Eleven pregnant pipefish
Ten mantas leaping
Nine Spanish dancers
Eight mahi mahi
Seven sardines swimming
Six corals laying
FIVE. GOLD. LING!
Four giant squid
Three sea pens
Two turtles love, and
My own private ROV
On the twelfth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Twelve Bathynomus
Eleven pregnant pipefish
Ten mantas leaping
Nine Spanish dancers
Eight mahi mahi
Seven sardines swimming
Six corals laying
FIVE. GOLD. LING!
Four giant squid
Three sea pens
Two turtles love, and
My own private ROV
Merry Christmas folks!
[...] Link: The twelve days of <b>Christmas</b> – a marine biological edition | Deep <b>… [...]
[...] View article: The twelve days of Christmas – a marine biological edition | Deep … [...]
What a fantastic creation, still smiling, I love it!!!
i love it so much!!! <3
this is so cute, lol!
[...] now joined by a physical oceanography edition. Show your geek credentials by singing them out loud! http://deepseanews.com/2012/12/the-twelve-days-of-christmas-a-marine-biological-edition/ [...]
Just want to say merry Christmas. An also love learning about marine life through you. Thank you
Al, I was referred to you by Miriam Goldstein. I am an independent sea life filmmaker and while filming at Isla Guadalupe, Mexico in Fall of 2012 I noticed what appeared to be scars and suction cup marks on the side and top of one of the great white sharks that I filmed. You can go on my Google+ page and watch the video titled Steven Lucas Presents: Arise. If you pause the video at 1:50 you’ll see three and possibly four circular marks on the gills of the shark. Also, if you expand the shark profile photo on my Google+ page you’ll notice a very large tentacle shaped scar that runs from the left side of the shark up and over the top of the shark.
Is it possible that these sharks are battling either giant squid or colossal squid at depth? Let me know what you think.
Steven Lucas
Hi Steven, could be a number of explanations, I reckon. Squid are a possibility, but also cookie cutter sharks trying to take a nip. Or, it could be human induced, if the animal collided with a pipe or was maliciously hit with one. For the longer cut on top of the other animal, the usual best bet for those is boat props or hulls. It looks much like the ones we see on whale sharks in Mexico, and I’m pretty sure those aren’t wrangling with colossal squid. What an exciting opportunity to see and film a white shark up close; I’m jealous!