Sea Creature of the Week!!!

"The Sea Creature of the Week" 

To prepare us for Discovery Week's 2013: Shark Week 

(August 4th)

The Great White Shark

Carcharodon carcharias 

WAIT!!! 

Do not be alarmed or afraid....it's just a shark!! Sharks are a lot more scary in our minds than in real life. "Looks can be deceiving!" Media and horror stories have given sharks such a bad reputation, humans are often terrified rather than wanting to learn more. A great white shark is an endangered species with an AWESOME sense of smell. Great whites can recognize 1 drop of blood in up to 25 gallons of water!! They also can sense tiny amounts of blood in the water, 3 miles away!!!!! Awesome sense of smell, huh? Something I find absolutely unique about sharks is that they are cartilaginous!!!! This means instead of having bones, their body frame is made of cartilage! Yup, the stuff your ears are made of! This, along with it's body shape, helps the "GW" (great white) speed through ocean waters! I have such an appreciation for sharks...my dog's name is "Bruce"......like the GW from "Finding Nemo!!" (Can you tell I LOVE that movie?!?!) 

Sea Creature of the Week!!!

"The Sea Creature of the Week"

Anglerfish

Lophiiformes

One of the most interesting fish of the sea, its looks gives off its angry attitude! This creature lives in the lightless bottom parts of the ocean and, in my opinion, has every right to look angry! What's interesting about the anglerfish, worn only by females, is a piece of dorsal spine that pokes out above their mouths like a fishing pole—hence their name. 

Make sure to watch "Finding Nemo" for an animated encounter with the Angler Fish!!!  

Sea Creature of the Week!!!!

To kick things off......let me introduce......(insert drum-rolls here)....

"The Sea Creature of Week" 

Neon Dottyback

Pseudochromis aldabraensis

This creature is one of my favorites! It is a marine ornamental fish that resides mostly at the bottom of tanks. I love it not only for their color, but this species of Pseudochromis was used in my very first internship with Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute and ORA! Say hello to the Neon Dottyback!!!! 

*Come back next Tuesday for a new Sea Creature of the Week!*