http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2010/11/17/parrotfish-sleep-in-a-mosquito-net-made-of-mucus/ Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:00:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2010/11/17/parrotfish-sleep-in-a-mosquito-net-made-of-mucus/#comment-9752 Ed Yong Sat, 20 Nov 2010 22:35:45 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=3068#comment-9752 @DonK - the idea is that the mucus apparently contains antioxidants that could help to mop up free radicals produced by UV radiation during the day. So it could help to halt a process of damage that has already been kick-started. It doesn't act like a sunscreen or anything like that. @DonK – the idea is that the mucus apparently contains antioxidants that could help to mop up free radicals produced by UV radiation during the day. So it could help to halt a process of damage that has already been kick-started. It doesn’t act like a sunscreen or anything like that.

]]> http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2010/11/17/parrotfish-sleep-in-a-mosquito-net-made-of-mucus/#comment-9751 Bob Abela Sat, 20 Nov 2010 05:15:43 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=3068#comment-9751 Interesting post. Also, crustaceans are not the only "mosquito" that parrot fish must contend with. The cocoon helps to ward off parasitic mollusks such as those within family Colubrariidae. Interesting post. Also, crustaceans are not the only “mosquito” that parrot fish must contend with. The cocoon helps to ward off parasitic mollusks such as those within family Colubrariidae.

]]> http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2010/11/17/parrotfish-sleep-in-a-mosquito-net-made-of-mucus/#comment-9750 ParrotTalk Fri, 19 Nov 2010 17:46:53 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=3068#comment-9750 donK: It was just an example of a type of cocoon built for, and not that they needed one built to protect their DNA at night. donK: It was just an example of a type of cocoon built for, and not that they needed one built to protect their DNA at night.

]]> http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2010/11/17/parrotfish-sleep-in-a-mosquito-net-made-of-mucus/#comment-9749 donK Thu, 18 Nov 2010 13:58:02 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=3068#comment-9749 Unless I missed something it seems far fetched that a cocoon could "protect the fish from DNA damage caused by sunlight" at night while it sleeps. Unless I missed something it seems far fetched that a cocoon could “protect the fish from DNA damage caused by sunlight” at night while it sleeps.

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