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Coral Reefs: “Rainforests of the Sea”

Coral Reefs: “Rainforests of the Sea”

About Coral reefs are one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world and are found in over 100 countries. Habitants include lobsters, clams, seahorses, sponges, sharks, rays, and many more! Coral polyps, an organism related to anemones and jellyfish, are responsible for building reefs. Regarding the immense importance of coral reefs, 25% of the ocean's fish depend on them. In addition, they are used for shelter, finding food, reproduction, and raising young. For example, the

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Penguins- the flightless birds

Penguins- the flightless birds

The penguin are flightless birds that have adapted for the coldest environments and a dirt of fish and krill. Not all penguins can be found in Antarctica but most can be found in the northern hemisphere then in the Southern Hemisphere. Although there are a few penguins that make their habitat down south like the Galápagos penguin they live right next to the equator. You might think that the penguins wings are useless but you would be wrong. The penguins use their small wings

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Stingrays

Stingrays

Overview/ Introduction Stingrays are a type of ray, their scientific name is Myliobatoilder. As you may or not know, rays are closely related and associated with sharks, you could even call them cousins! Both sharks and rays are a type of fish, that is just one of the many similarities between each species. Sharks and rays also do not have bones like regular fish. Instead sharks and rays both are supported by cartilage, this makes their bodies flexible and able to move easily

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Devastating Shark Finning

Devastating Shark Finning

Shark finning: It is the gruesome practice of cutting off a live shark's fins and throwing the rest of the animal back into the sea, where it dies a slow and painful death. How many people know the consequences of shark finning? Not a lot. Or they do know and decide to ignore the lifelong consequences of this ghastly practice. Most people commit the crime of shark finning for a Chinese delicacy called shark fin soup, a symbol of wealth. It's exactly what it sounds like. Shark

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Boo: Atlantic Ghost Crab

Boo: Atlantic Ghost Crab

Introduction Also known as the sand crab, the Atlantic ghost crab is a sand-colored crustacean with a distinct pair of white claws. Ghost crabs are active on coastal beaches in the Chesapeake Bay region from spring through autumn. The Atlantic ghost crab has a square-shaped, semi-translucent carapace (shell) that can measure up to three inches; males are generally larger than females. These crabs are able to chair their coloring to match their surroundings, making them less v

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Jellyfish- The Careless Beauties of the Sea

Jellyfish- The Careless Beauties of the Sea

Jellyfish are amazing and beautiful creatures found around the world. Each jellyfish is different in their own way whether that be size or color. There are around 20 types of jellyfish in the sea all having dome shaped bodies and stringy tentacles trailing down the official term is oral arms. Almost all jellyfishes are 95% water making them invertebrates, an invertebrate is an animal that doesn't have a backbone like snails and slugs. Jellyfishes often catch prey like copepod

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Manta Rays

Manta Rays

Introduction/Overview Manta rays, the species itself is a close relative to sharks. They are quite similar to the Whale Shark and the Basking shark, and the blue whale because they all eat tiny plankton. These rays have many amazing traits, including how highly intelligent they are, or maybe that they are the largest ray species in the world. There are 2 different species of manta rays, one being the Reef Manta ray and the other the Giant Manta Ray. It was only discovered tha

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The Gentleness of Sharks

The Gentleness of Sharks

Sharks can come in many varieties and shapes. There are hammerheads, goblins, and the well-known great white shark. Normally when we think of sharks we think of a sea monster, something that can tear our very limbs off without ‘wasting its breath’. In reality, however, shark attacks are extremely rare. In the United States, there are about 16 shark attacks annually with 1 or 2 of them becoming fatal. Surprisingly, more people die from falling down the ladder than shark att

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Nurse Sharks

Nurse Sharks

Overview Nurse sharks, also known by their scientific name as Ginglymostoma cirratum, are an unusual species. From how they tend to swim near the bottom of the ocean, or their thousands of tiny serrated teeth. Unlike the other species, nurse sharks skin is smooth when you touch it. This is unusual because majority of sharks skin feels almost exactly like sandpaper due to most sharks skin being made of tiny teeth like structures. These teeth like structures are called derma de

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Aquarium Spotlight: Monterey Bay Aquarium

Aquarium Spotlight: Monterey Bay Aquarium

Monterey Bay Aquarium is one of hundreds of wonderful aquariums nationwide. Monterey Bay Aquarium is a non-profit public aquarium located in Monterey, California. It is known for being the first to open an exibhit featuring a live kelp forest on October 20, 1984, the date it was opened. You can find the aquarium at 886 Cannery Row, Monterey CA 93940. The largest tank in the aquarium is 1.2 million US gallons, which is 8.7 million liters. The total volume of tanks is 2.3 milli

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North Atlantic Right Whale, - Rare and Gentle Giants

Diving Bell Spider: Aquatic Spiderman?

Diving Bell Spider: Aquatic Spiderman?

Introduction Under the water, the Diving Bell spider or water spider (Argyroneta aquatica) displays a silvery appearance due to the presence of the air bubble surrounding its abdomen. Outside of the water, the water spider has a brown cephalothorax and a dark velvety abdomen. Like other spiders, the abdomen is covered with hairs, however the water spider uses these hairs to capture a bubble of air around its abdomen. Since the respiratory organs of spiders are located on thei

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All about Lemon Sharks

All about Lemon Sharks

Overview/Introduction Lemon sharks, scientifically known as Negaprion brevirostris are an amazing branch of sharks. The sharks have many interesting characteristics, for example some may have bright yellow skin! According to the Encyclopedia Of Life, the average shark can weighs 220lbs, yet is able to reach weights up to 550 pounds. On the other hand this outstanding species can be anywhere between lengths of 10 to 11 feet. Lemon sharks can be found in multiple places through

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Octopus Spotlight: Rambo, the Photographer Octopus

Octopus Spotlight: Rambo, the Photographer Octopus

We all have special talents and Rambo's doesn't fall short! Rambo is an octopus that has been trained to work a camera. Settle down as we travel into Rambo's life. Rambo is an octopus that lives in wonderful Auckland, New Zealand. She lives in Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium. Rambo was trained to take pictures of people, guests, using a waterproof camera. This camera, a $300 Sony Cyber-shot TX30, is installed in her tank where she lives. Rambo knows to take a picture everyt

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