Aqua Marine Discovery

Video of Cuttlefish Hunting

2010-10-27T19:54:00.000-07:00

I mentioned in my earlier post that cuttlefish not only use their camouflage to hide, but also to confuse their prey. I finally found a good video of a cuttlefish trying to do this. This is a great example of how quickly the skin of a cuttlefish can change colors too.

In this case its prey is actually a plastic toy put there by a scuba diver, so it's attempts to confuse it don't seem to get much of a response. The only one confused here is the cuttlefish. The next video shows a cuttlefish hunting real fish.

When the diver gets too close, the cuttlefish suddenly switches from hunting prey to camouflaging from what he sees as a predator.

Cuttlefish

2010-01-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

Cuttlefish have some of the most incredible camouflage of anything in the animal kingdom. Their highly complex brain allows them to control the cells in their skin to blend in perfectly with their surroundings, or flash colorful displays much like an LED billboard.

The cells on the skin of a cuttlefish are covered in tiny dots of all colors, much like the tiny dots that make up the screen of your computer. A cuttlefish can make their cells grow or shrink to bring out the perfect blend of colors to match whatever is around it.

Its skin can also change shape from its usual smooth texture to whatever matches its surroundings. When it combines its color and texture adaptation, a cuttlefish can become nearly invisible even in plain sight. Because it can change its camouflage almost instantly, cuttlefish are very good at stalking prey, or avoiding becoming a meal themselves.

Cuttlefish are excellent predators, feeding on small fish and crustaceans. They will sneak up on their prey until they are close enough to strike, then shoot out two of their longest tentacles like harpoons to grab onto their prey with their suction cups. Then they reel their victim back into their mouth. Cuttlefish will also sometimes flash waving patterns of bright colors to confuse their prey while they move in for the kill.

Cuttlefish are not actually fish as their name implies. They are mollusks, close relatives of octopus and squid. Unlike their boneless cousins, cuttlefish have an internal shell which acts a skeleton to help them hold their shape. Cuttlefish shells are often sold at pet stores as calcium supplements for birds.

Cuttlefish use their skin for more than just camouflage. They can also use their amazing control of color to communicate. They often change to bright colors when they are angry to warn other sea creatures or other cuttlefish to stay away. They also use their arms to communicate, holding them in certain positions as if they are using sign language.

I once found a cuttlefish while I was snorkeling in Cozumel. Unlike most marine life, it seemed genuinely curious about me. I swam in close and moved my fingers into the position it had its tentacles in. It waved its arms back and flashed bright colors at me as if it was trying to carry on a conversation. After a few minutes, the cuttlefish darted away and disappeared. I still wonder if I said something mean or just wasn't much fun to talk to.

Pistol Shrimp

2009-04-27T19:57:00.000-07:00

Pistol Shrimps are tiny creatures with a deadly weapon. They are capable of shooting supersonic blasts from their fingertips with enough force to instantly stun or kill their prey.

You may notice that one claw of a pistol shrimp is much larger than the other, and very strangely shaped. This claw serves as both its lethal weapon, and its voice. This claw can be forcefully snapped shut, shooting a jet of water out at such a high speed that it actually vaporizes the water. This causes a small air bubble to form. The bubble collapses with enough force to send concussive shockwaves capable of stunning and incapacitating prey.

A pistol shrimp will lie in wait under a rock or in a burrow until food comes along. When it is in range, the shrimp will forcefully snap its oversize claw shut, shooting out sonic waves that incapacitate its prey. The helpless victim is dragged unconscious into the burrow and eaten by the pistol shrimp.

Another unusual thing about pistol shrimps is that they often allow a fish to live with them. Certain kinds of goby fish often share burrows with pistol shrimp. The fish serves as a guard dog, protecting the shrimp from bigger predators. In return, the pistol shrimp works hard to keep the burrow clean and excavate their home.

The loud blast created by a pistol shrimp's claw can be heard from great distances. Because of this, they also use their claw for communicating with other pistol shrimps. When you listen underwater you may hear a lot of popping sounds. Some of them may be made by pistol shrimps firing off their sound waves to communicate with each other.

Frogfish

2009-04-05T21:39:00.000-07:00

Frogfish are some of the most bizarre looking fish in the ocean. They are a type of angler fish with amazing adaptations for camouflage. Their bodies are oddly shaped and they can change colors to blend in with their environment. Most frogfish mimic corals, sponges, seaweed, or rocks. This camouflage keeps predators from identifying them as food, and it keeps their food from identifying them as predators.

Frogfish spend most of their lives scooting along the bottom of the ocean. They lie motionless, resting on specially modified fins that act almost like legs.

Like most angler fish, frogfish have a very clever method of hunting prey. Instead of going out to find their food, they bring their food to them. Frogfish have a small growth on their heads that looks like a small worm or fish. They dangle this lure in front of their mouth, tricking other fish into thinking it is food.

The fish come close, thinking they will eat an easy meal. Instead they become the meal for the frogfish.

Frogfish are found in oceans throughout the world, and they take on a staggering variety of shapes and colors.

Sea Snakes

2009-02-16T12:47:00.000-08:00

Sea Snakes are some of the many land animals that have adapted to live in the ocean. They seem completely out of place, yet these unusual marine reptiles are perfectly adapted for life below the waves. I'm sure it is hard to picture a snake under water, so I posted the video below of a sea snake gliding across a reef. It seems just as natural swimming underwater as it would slithering on dry land.

There are over 60 different species of sea snakes found in tropical seas throughout the world. Most are brightly colored, and nearly all sea snakes have a flattened tail that works as a paddle. Unlike their terrestrial cousins, many species of sea snakes lack the ability to crawl on land. Others are known to spend a good amount of time out of the water. Sea snakes may live underwater for most of their lives, but they still breathe air like all other reptiles.

The forked tongue of a sea snake is specially adapted to allow them to smell underwater. They cruise along coral reefs hunting fish, eels, shrimp, or even fish eggs depending on the species.

Most sea snakes are highly venomous and pack deadly poison, but few are known to be aggressive towards humans. Attacks are not very frequent, and they rarely deliver much poison when they strike. When sea snakes are handled by humans or caught on land, they can be very dangerous. As with most sea creatures, it is best to look but don't touch.

Manta Rays

2009-01-29T18:05:00.000-08:00

Manta rays are the largest member of the ray family, growing up to 25 feet across. While most fish swim, rays fly gracefully through the water by flapping the edges of their fins like wings. Rays are actually relatives of sharks.

Manta rays are a favorite among divers because they are so large and beautiful, but also very gentle. They are said to often become curious about divers and interact with them. They have the largest brain-to-body ratio of any of the shark family. They are also sometimes found in groups or even large schools.

Manta rays are sometimes referred to as devil rays because of the hornlike projections around their mouths. These are actually used to funnel food into their gaping mouths. They feed exclusively on plankton, which they scoop into their mouths as they glide along the currents. Manta rays swim slowly, often doing loops and dives as they seek out plankton.

With their huge wingspan, one often wonders if they could fly. In some ways, they do. Rays have been observed leaping completely out of the water for short periods of time. Naturally gravity takes its toll but they get some considerable air time before plunging back under the waves.

If you want to see a giant manta ray in person, you can find one swimming along with 3 whale sharks in the Georgia Aquarium. I got to watch this graceful giant up close on my recent visit there.

Back From the Holidays

2009-01-11T16:29:00.000-08:00

As some of you may have realized, I took a break from posting to this blog for about 2 months during the holidays. Now that I am back from my long vacation, I will not only resume posting to this blog, but also increase the amount of attention I give to it. Keep your eyes out for more posts coming in the next weeks.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that not only has the readership remained active, but it has actually increased while I was away. According to my hit trackers, this blog has gotten over 18,000 views in less than half a year. Not only that, but it has grown to a Pagerank 1, which is a huge accomplishment for such a young blog. I wanted to thank all of my readers for your comments and support. Without you this blog would not have come so far. I look forward to giving you all more good reasons to keep coming back.

Cone Snail Videos

2008-11-30T10:42:00.000-08:00

I was happy to see how much attention the post on Cone Snails has gotten. I understand it is hard to picture a snail killing something, so I dug up a couple of videos of these slow but deadly predators on the hunt. It's somewhat disturbing and totally amazing to see these Cone Snails in action.

This is a very good clip from National Geographic showing the full process of a Cone Snail hunting.

And this video from Nature shows how quickly a Cone Snail can subdue a live and very active fish.

One of the reader responses to my previous Cone Snail post asked where Cone Snails can be located. I found a map from National Geographic showing just this.

It's small but you can see the regions where Cone Snails can be found highlighted in yellow. They are mostly located in tropical oceans. Florida is the only place in America that I know of where you can find Cone Snails. Still, if you think you might have found a cone snail, just remember the general rule of the ocean:
When in doubt, don't touch it.

Cone Snails: Deadly Predators

2008-11-03T05:00:00.000-08:00

Oddly enough one of the most deadly animals in the entire ocean is a tiny snail called a cone snail. While it seems comical to even think of a snail as dangerous, let alone lethal, cone snails have some of the most sophisticated and deadly neurotoxins known to man. A cone snail sting can kill a person within minutes of injection.

While most snails simply graze on algae, cone snails are active predators. They are fully capable of catching and eating quick and agile fish. These mollusks move just as slowly as other snails, but they pack a hidden weapon. They have a long tube which conceals a deadly harpoon tipped with their powerful venom. They can fire this harpoon with lightning fast accuracy. Their prey is killed almost before even knowing it has been hit. The snail then reels the dead fish into its vacuum-like mouth and swallows it whole.

People are rarely attacked by cone-snails because they do not actively hunt humans. Only about 15 known cone snail related deaths have been reported to date. Most of these incidents occur because people pick up the beautiful shells they see on the ocean floor. When the snail is agitated, it fires its harpoon, and the person often dies within minutes. If you ever see a cone-shaped shell lying on the sand, it's best to just leave it alone.

Puffer Fish

2008-10-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

Puffer fish have a very unique defense mechanism. They are able to swallow water to inflate their bodies like balloons. Most fish will eat anything that will fit into their mouth, and avoid anything bigger than themselves. By puffing up like this, a puffer fish quickly jumps to a much bigger size, and becomes inedible to most fish.

A puffer fish spends most of its time deflated. In this state, it is much more streamlined and can swim unhindered in search of food. When it puffs up, it moves extremely slowly. I used to catch puffer fish by startling them into puffing up. This made them suddenly almost immobile. I could then easily pick the little ball up with my hands.

If I caught them in a net before they managed to puff up with water, they would fill up with air. This turned them into little living balloons. I would put them on the surface and they would float down the beach until they relaxed and deflated.

Puffer fish come in many colors, shapes, and sizes. Most can easily fit into the palm of your hand, but some grow as big as a person. Some species are decorated with beautiful colors as well.

Jellyfish

2008-10-24T05:00:00.000-07:00

Jellyfish are cnidarians, related to sea anemones and sea slugs. They consist of a dome-shaped body and tentacles that trail behind them. Jellyfish are able to swim through the water by pulsing their jelly-like bodies. Their tentacles are covered in poisonous stinging cells called nematocysts. These tentacles can paralyze or kill fish. Some jellyfish, like the box jellyfish below, are powerful enough to kill humans. The venom in a box jellyfish can stop a person's heart in less than 3 minutes.

While most jellyfish are relatively small, some can grow to enormous sizes.

During certain times of year, jellyfish can be found in huge numbers, clouding the seas with their pulsating forms.

Some jellyfish can even glow in the dark.

Crabs

2008-10-22T05:00:00.000-07:00

Crabs are Crustaceans and members of the Arthropod phylum. They have a hard exoskeleton surrounding their entire bodies which acts as a suit of armor. Most crabs use their powerful claws to fend off attacks and capture prey.

Some species such as the hermit crab scoot into empty snail shells and carry the shell on their backs. When threatened, they can disappear into the shell.

Other species rely on camouflage to hide from predators.

Most species of crabs can survive for short periods of time outside the water. Their shells hold enough water to keep their gills moist, therefore allowing them to breathe on land. Some crabs spend most of their lives on land.

Crabs range in size from barely visible to the giant coconut crab pictured here. Crabs can be found all over the world in a staggering variety of shapes and colors.

Mandarin Goby

2008-10-20T05:00:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite fish in the whole ocean is the Mandarin Goby. Its lifestyle and behavior are much like any other goby, but its colors are absolutely stunning.

These vibrant and flashy fish can be found as the centerpiece of many saltwater aquariums. They are heavily sought after because of their beautiful display.

Great White Sharks

2008-10-17T05:00:00.000-07:00

Great White sharks are among the fiercest and most deadly predators in the world. They are among the few species of sharks that have a reputation as man-eaters. They are some of the most efficient and powerful predators in the world. Here is some breathtaking video footage of great white shark attacks from the series "Planet Earth".

[WARNING: Not safe for small children or people who love seals]

Dinoflagellates: Bioluminescent Algae

2008-10-15T05:00:00.000-07:00

In some oceans when the night is dark enough, you can see the waves glow as the water stirs. This is caused by phytoplankton called dinoflagellates. They give off a soft blue glow when disturbed. The chemicals they use are similar to the ones causing lightning bugs to glow.

When a person swims through the algae, the motion gives off a glow all around them, looking like angel's wings. Boats and wave action can also cause ripples of light to cascade in their wake. This video was taken at a dock in Australia where this algae is plentiful. People throw water on it to cause it to glow in amazing patterns.

Planet Earth Echinoderms Video

2008-10-13T05:00:00.000-07:00

This is a clip from the amazing Planet Earth series that aired on the discovery channel. It shows the behavior of some of the echinoderms in the California oceans. You will see starfish, brittle stars, sea urchins, and sand dollars. All of these are members of the echinoderm family. The stop motion photography allows you to see the behavior of these slow moving creatures.

Flying Fish

2008-10-10T05:00:00.000-07:00

Flying fish are some of the most amazing organisms in the ocean, and believe me there are lots of amazing creatures in the sea. Flying fish have a very unique defense mechanism for escaping predators. They have found that the best way to avoid other fish in the water is to get out of the water. As their name suggests, flying fish can actually leap out of the water and fly short distances.

Flying fish have very specialized pectoral fins (the fins on their sides) which can actually function as wings. While underwater, they fold the fins close to their bodies so they can swim just like normal fish. When a flying fish feels threatened, it will take a running start and jump out of the water.
Some flying fish have been clocked to fly for over 45 seconds, but most flights are relatively short. Like all fish, flying fish still breathe through gills, and must return to water before they run out of oxygen. Still, that quick flight is plenty of time to escape most predators. As far as most fish are concerned, if their prey leaves the water, it is out of reach.

World's Deepest Fish

2008-10-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

Scientists have discovered fish living nearly 5 miles below the surface of the ocean. There is no light at this depth, and the pressure is enough to easily crush nearly any living thing. The pressure is about as much as the weight of 1,600 elephants. The water temperature is nearly freezing. It seems impossible that anything could survive in these conditions, yet there is life here.

This species of snailfish is able to thrive in large numbers in this extreme environment. Scientists had to specially design the camera equipment so it wouldn't be destroyed by the crushing pressure. It was previously inconceivable that anything could live at such depths, but it seems that no matter where we search on earth, there is always life.

Sea Anemones

2008-10-06T13:00:00.000-07:00

Sea anemones resemble flowers, but they are actually cnidarians, related to coral and jellyfish. They spend their lives rooted to surfaces using a big sticky foot. Their tentacles wave in the currents and catch any pieces of food or animals that pass by.

Sea anemones spend their larval stage as zooplankton floating in the currents. When they reach maturity, they settle on the sea bottom and anchor themselves.

The tentacles of a sea anemone are lined with tiny cells called nematocysts. These cells contain a microscopic spring loaded harpoon. When an unfortunate animal brushes by, the harpoon fires, ensnaring the victim and delivering deadly poison. Once the hapless victim is entangled, the anemone pulls it into its mouth. It digests the food in its stomach and excretes the waste back out through its mouth.
Sea anemones are often sought out as partners for other organisms which use their powerful poison as defense. Hermit crabs will often uproot small sea anemones and stick them on their backs. This serves the anemone well because it is now mobile and can more easily catch bits of food. It also gets to snack on any of the crab's leftovers. The crab benefits by having added protection from predators. Anything trying to eat the crab gets a powerful sting.

Another animal that uses the sea anemone as protection is the clown fish. These fish are adapted to keep the sea anemone from stinging them, and spend their entire lives nestled safely in their deadly tentacles.

Sea anemones come in many shapes, sizes, and colors, and can be found throughout the world, from the cold oceans of North America to tropical Australian coral reefs.

Sea Slugs Part 3

2008-10-03T00:17:00.000-07:00

Yes, I have even more amazing sea slug photos. There are so many diverse and unique species of sea slugs. These are just a few of the most colorful.

Sharks

2008-10-01T01:00:00.000-07:00

Sharks are the most effective and deadly predators in the oceans of our world. Sharks are perfectly designed aquatic killing machines. There are over 360 known species of sharks, ranging from the tiny dogfish to the massive whale shark.

The bodies of sharks are perfectly designed for quick and decisive strikes. They are streamlined for speed and power in swimming. A shark's skin is covered in tiny teeth which face forward, causing a layer of turbulence around their bodies and making them even more streamlined. The high tech racing suits worn by many swimmers in the Olympics were designed to mimic a shark's skin.

Most sharks are colored to help them disappear into the water. They are a dull gray and darker on top to blend into the deep waters when looking down at them. Their undersides are light, blending in with the light water above.

Sharks have heightened sense organs to help them find prey. These sense organs are packed into their snouts. This causes their noses to be very sensitive. Sharks can often be warded off by a sharp blow to the nose, which causes them great pain. They can smell even a drop of blood in the water for miles, which is why you should never swim when you are bleeding. When sharks smell blood, they often go into a frenzy, lashing wildly at anything that moves. Sharks also have electric receptors and can sense the tiny electric fields emitted by living things. When an animal panics or is afraid, their electrical signals increase and sharks can sense it. This is why it is said that sharks can sense fear. In a way, they can. They can read the heightened electrical activity in terrified prey, and it makes them more likely to attack.

Sharks have massive jaws that actually unhinge to allow them to take huge bites. When a shark bites, its eyes actually sink back in their head to protect them from thrashing enemies and their sharp claws or fins. Their strong jaws are lined with rows of thousands of razor sharp teeth which continually fall out and are replaced.

Man has always feared sharks, but they actually don't normally hunt humans. A shark prefers oily, fatty fish and seals for a meal. Sharks also tend to feed on weak or injured sea creatures. They rarely bother attacking healthy animals unless they are very hungry. Sharks are attracted to blood, splashing, and fear. Each of these things tells a shark that the animal is hurt, and will be an easy meal. If you ever see a shark, stay calm and relax. It will usually just check you out, then leave you alone.
Most shark attacks are a case of mistaken identity. Humans surfing in wetsuits look very similar to seals, which are some of their favorite prey. In the entire world, there are an average of only about 50 shark attacks each year. Only about 5 of these are fatal. On the other hand, there are an average of 520,000 murders worldwide each year. We are over 100,000 times more likely to be killed by a human attack than a shark attack, and we go out in human infested areas each day. So don't let sharks scare you out of the water.

Sea Slugs Part 2

2008-09-29T00:01:00.000-07:00

I found so many amazing photos of sea slugs that I needed a second post to fit them all. It never ceases to amaze me how colorful some sea creatures are. I guess if and animal is poisonous enough, it can afford to be flashy.

Sea Turtles

2008-09-26T13:25:00.000-07:00

Sea turtles are some of the most graceful and majestic animals in the ocean. They glide through the water effortlessly, flapping their arms like wings. Sea turtles can be found throughout the oceans of the world, from coral reefs to open waters.

Sea turtles have a very unusual life cycle for a marine organism. They spend nearly their whole lives in the ocean but come out onto land to lay their eggs. Sea turtles somehow remember where they are born and will migrate hundreds of miles to return to the exact place they hatched to give birth to the next generation.

A female sea turtle will crawl out onto the beach and dig a hole where she deposits hundreds of eggs which look just like pingpong balls. After incubating in the warm sand, they will all dig their way out of the sand, erupting out of the ground. They make a mad dash towards the waves, running from the many predators that see them as an easy snack.

Baby sea turtles are instinctively attracted to light. The moon naturally points them towards the waves where they will be safe. They will also follow any other light that seems brighter than the moon, including houses and street lamps. This is why many seaside areas are asked to turn thier lights off at night during breeding season. Most species of sea turtles are endangered, but humans are working hard to protect these majestic animals.

Fish

2008-09-22T01:38:00.000-07:00

When you think of creatures in the ocean, Fish are probably the first thing that comes to mind. Fish are some of the most populous and successful organisms in the ocean. They are fast, big, and perfectly suited for life in the sea. They are members of the phylum Chordata, meaning they have a backbone and spinal cord. Fish eat anything from algae and plankton to huge marine mammals.

Fish are some of the most diverse and populous organisms on our planet. Fish range in size from tiny fish we can barely see with our naked eye, to the giant whale shark, which dwarfs humans. Fish are spread throughout the oceans of our world and can be found in all seas except the Dead Sea (which is too salty to support any life). Fish can live anywhere from the hot tropical seas to the frigid arctic ocean. Fish have been found from the shallows of tide pools to the deepest reaches of the ocean humans have been able to explore.

I will cover some of the most beautiful, exotic, and bizarre species of fish over the course of this blog. Keep checking for more updates.

Sea Slugs

2008-09-20T23:11:00.000-07:00

Nudibranchs, commonly referred to as sea slugs, are some of the most beautiful creatures in the ocean. They are shell-less mollusks related to octopus and clams.

They can be found in oceans throughout the globe, most commonly in shallow tropical waters.

Sea slugs eat a variety of foods, and are usually carnivores. Many species feed on sponges. Some are cannibals.

Sea slugs are often very brightly colored to warn predators that they pack deadly poisons. This kind of coloration advertises that they are bad to eat and keeps predators from trying to make snacks out of them.

Sea slugs are some of the few animals that carry both male and female reproductive organs. They can effectively breed with any other member of their species.

Sponges

2008-09-16T19:23:00.000-07:00

Sponges are from the phylum Porifera. They are some of the most simple animals in the ocean. They are huge colonies of cells without a central nervous system. They are really a huge group of individual cells built into a colorful and intricate structure. Sponges come in many different shapes and sizes, and they add splashes of color to a coral reef.

Sponges are full of holes and very porous. This is to allow water to pass through them. They are filter feeders, meaning they pull tiny plankton out of the water and eat the microscopic bits of food that flow in the current. They have tiny hairs that wave in the water, pushing water past them and allowing them to grab bits of passing food. They serve to help keep the water clean.

The household sponges we use today were designed after sea sponges. There used to be a major industry for harvesting sea sponges for use in household cleaning. Because of its destructive effects on the marine habitat, this practice has been replaced by more environmentally friendly synthetic sponges.

Starfish

2008-09-05T13:31:00.000-07:00

Starfish are beautiful and delicate sea creatures. We often find them washed up on the beach. While many see them as colorful decorations, they are actually deadly predators to clams and other mollusks. They eat by turning their stomach inside out. If they lose a leg, they can grow it back... and the leg can grow into a new starfish.

Starfish are Echinoderms, related to sea urchins and sea cucumbers. They come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and configurations. All starfish are symmetrical and are composed of arms radiating from the center. While most starfish have 5 arms in the traditional star shape, many species have much more.

Starfish are very slow moving animals and spend most of their time stuck to rocks or scooting along the bottom. They actually move using a network of thousands of tiny tubed feet with a single suction cup at the end of them. They have eyes on the tips of their arms and can only see very basic motion.

While they don't move quickly, they are actually predators that feed on clams, mussels, oysters, and other filter feeding mollusks. They stick their suction cups around the shells and pry them slowly open with steady force. When they have a small opening in the shell, the star fish will turn its stomach inside out and push it into the shell. It then digests the mollusk inside its own shell.

Starfish also have amazing regenerative abilities. If a starfish loses any part of an arm, it will simply grow a new one. As long as the core is intact, a starfish can grow back all its limbs. In some species, each limb can actually grow a whole new starfish. There are many varieties of starfish. I will post about them individually later.

Octopus

2008-09-03T19:53:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite sea creatures is the octopus. Most people know of them as eight-legged sea creatures, but few know just how fascinating they really are. They are actually very intelligent, perhaps the most intelligent invertebrates in the world. They have been known to learn and solve problems in research laboratories. They have many unique adaptations that allow them to thrive in just about any part of the ocean. They are skilled predators and crafty survivors.

These creatures are mollusks, related to clams, sea shells, and squid. They have a hydroskeleton, which means they are held up by water. They have no bones, and become a limp blob when out of the water. Strangely enough, this doesn't always deter them from slithering up onto land to get to food trapped in tidepools. They can squeeze their bodies into tiny crevices and through holes just a tiny fraction of their size.

They have a large number of defense mechanisms to ward off predators. They camouflage perfectly with their environment and become very hard to see. Their skin is covered in cells that allow them to change colors to match nearly any surrounding. The skin of many species can even change shape to mimic the textures of the world around them. If a predator does spot an octopus, they can spray dark ink into the water. This smokescreen shrouds them from view and allows them to jet away quickly.

Octopus normally crawl along the ocean floor on their eight legs. When necessary, they can force water through their body and out in a strong jet to propel them quickly backwards. It is much like when you let the air out of a balloon. Their legs are covered in suction cups which allow them to stick to surfaces, pick up objects, and hold onto prey. They are fierce and stealthy predators and will pounce on unsuspecting crabs and other small creatures they can catch. There are many interesting species of octopus which I will highlight in later posts.

Coral

2008-08-29T20:37:00.000-07:00

Coral reefs are home to millions of fish and some of the most abundant and beautiful life on our planet. Coral reefs also provide a barrier to protect land from erosion and they can even form entire islands. Much of the sand found on many tropical beaches is actually coral, ground up and refined.

Coral may look like brightly colored rocks but they are actually living creatures that secrete a hard exoskeleton where they live. Colonies of thousands of tiny creatures cling together to build a coral head. These coral heads build on each other to make an entire coral reef where a myriad of life can thrive.

Coral are actually related to jellyfish and sea anemones. They are very delicate and can only live in certain conditions. They need clear, shallow water to allow plenty of sunlight to reach them. They also need very warm temperatures to thrive. This is why most coral reefs are only found in the tropics. The reason they need so much sunlight is because they actually have algae living in their cells. The coral provides the algae with shelter and safety, and the algae provides coral with energy. Coral also feeds on floating animal materials that it snags in its outstretched tentacles.

Zooplankton

2008-08-28T20:59:00.000-07:00

Just about any sample of seawater taken will be full of plankton. Plankton is made up of microscopic plants (phytoplankton) and animals (zooplankton). Zooplankton are mostly too small to be seen with the naked eye. They are made up of the larva of some sea creatures, and other adult animals that never grow above microscopic sizes. Zooplankton are the second step in most food chains. Zooplankton eat phytoplankton, and often other zooplankton as well. They are in turn eaten by very small animals.

Some zooplankton swim while others simply drift. Some examples of the kinds of animals that can be found in zooplankton are krill (the tiny shrimp eaten blue whales), tiny jellyfish, and crab larvae. Many of the ocean's animals spend at least part of their lives drifting through the soup of plankton.

Phytoplankton

2008-08-27T20:01:00.000-07:00

Now that I have discussed some of the biggest animals in the ocean, I will now talk about the smallest. The basis of the ocean's food chain is phytoplankton. The term phytoplankton refers to thousands of species of tiny plants and algae that live in the ocean. Phytoplankton work like other plants, turning sunlight and carbon dioxide into energy and oxygen. The phytoplankton in the ocean are responsible for over 50% of all oxygen in our atmosphere.

Phytoplankton comes in many shapes and sizes and all are microscopic. Any time you swim in the ocean, you are immersed in a soup of living plants. Murkier water tends to have more abundant plankton where clear water has very little.

Phytoplankton are the first step in most food chains in the ocean. Tiny animals called zooplankton eat phytoplankton. Larger animals eat zooplankton, and bigger fish and animals eat them. Many larger animals eat just phytoplankton as well. Whale sharks, the biggest fish in the world, eat nothing but phytoplankton.

Whale Shark

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Whale Sharks are the biggest fish in the world. Blue whales are far bigger, but they are air breathing marine mammals. Whale sharks can grow up to 40 feet long and weigh up to 15 tons. Strangely enough, they are one of only 3 species of sharks in the ocean that are not harmful to humans. In fact they are often photographed swimming peacefully with divers.

These gentle giants do not have the rows of razor sharp teeth fitted in most of their relatives. Instead of prowling constantly in search of blood, they casually glide through the ocean with their huge mouths open wide. They are filter feeders. This means they strain out microscopic plankton from the ocean around them as their food. They are another example of one of the biggest animals in the ocean feeding on some of the smallest.

Giant Squid

2008-08-25T20:05:00.000-07:00

Sailors used to tell stories of the Kraken, a great sea monster with long tentacles which could swallow ships whole. It is believed this mythical beast was inspired by the real monsters in the ocean, the giant squid. This creature has been a mystery to science until very recently. The largest giant squid on record is over 60 feet long. It is by far the largest invertebrate in the world, and the biggest mollusk in the ocean.

Giant squid are very elusive and live in such deep water it is almost impossible to seek them out. Scientists knew these squid must be real because they found giant suction cup scars on Sperm-Whales that were known to feed on these giant mollusks. Giant tentacles were then found in the belly of dead Sperm-Whales, and then some bodies of giant squid were found washed up on the beach. But for centuries no living specimens were found, until 2004.

The photo above was taken by a Japanese research team that captured the first live giant squid on record. It was said to have put up quite a fight, but the team finally caught it and pulled it on board. It died while being captured, but its body was measured at 24 feet long. This was not a fully grown specimen. Giant squid are commonly known to grow over twice that size.

Blue Whale

2008-08-18T20:48:00.000-07:00

So for my first post, I'll start with the biggest animal in the ocean. Actually this is the biggest animal in the whole world. The Blue Whale can grow up to 110 feet long and weigh over 200 tons. Such a huge creature could never live on land because it would be crushed by its own weight, but it moves gracefully and effortlessly through the water. Strangely enough, the biggest animal in the world only eats tiny shrimp-like creatures called Krill. You can buy them at the pet store to feed your aquarium fish.

Introduction

2008-08-15T08:44:00.000-07:00

The ocean is home to some of the most beautiful and amazing creatures on earth. It covers about 71% of the earth yet man has only been able to explore a tiny fraction of it. It stands as the greatest scientific frontier. Man has always been fascinated with the ocean and the life dwelling in it. I have always had a deep love for the ocean. I will be posting about some of the most interesting creatures in the ocean, along with man's adaptations to life and recreation on the vast aquamarine horizon.