There are over 20,000 species of fish in the world, and new ones are being discovered all the time. All have been designed by the Creator for the particular part of the ocean, river or lake in which they live, so that they may find food and resist their enemies.
Among these are some 60 to 80 kinds of South and Central American freshwater fish that have built-in electricity. Some of these that live in deep and dark waters can turn headlights and taillights on and off as they swim. Others, contacting an enemy fish or one they want for food, turn on a powerful electric current and stun or kill it.
Still others in this group, swimming about in waters too dark to see through, send out electric signals (like radar) and find their way without any trouble. Some of them talk to each other through this means. One, a little three-incher, has the appropriate name of flashlight fish. When chased by an enemy it swims in a zigzag pattern, turning on a light located near its eye while "zigging" and turning it off when "zagging." This completely baffles the enemy which doesn't know where it will show up next, and it eventually gives up the chase.
One of the strangest of all fish is the orange sea dragon, related to the sea horse. The sea dragon is well named. Seen from the side it has a horny head with bulging eyes. Its narrow, wavy body twists into odd shapes as it swims. Then it has growths all along its long, snake like tail with similar growths along the top and bottom of its body. This whole combination makes it look like a dragon or piece of seaweed drifting in the current. When the female lays eggs, she drops them on a sticky part of the male. He carries them around for many days before they hatch and leave him. Neither mother nor father fish pays any attention to them after that.
The 9- to 12-inch batfish walks and sits like a toad and almost looks like one as it crawls along the ocean floor, covered with what looks like bony warts all over its skin. Resting, it uses its flippers like elbows, its head lifted up and supported by them.
Many of these fish would appear to be completely hidden in the dark, deep homes they occupy. But a Bible verse asks these questions: "Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth?" (Jer. 23:2424Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:24)). Another verse speaks more plainly about the people of the earth: "For His eyes are upon the ways of man, and He seeth all his goings" (Job 34:2121For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. (Job 34:21)). When we think of this, it should make us try to please Him in all that we do.