Sea Creature of the Week

"The Sea Creature of the Week" 

Stonefish 

Synaceia verrucosa 

This is a creature that could be deadly to both ME and YOU! As a matter of fact, it is said to be the most deadly fish in the world!!!! Stonefish are unique fish that contain venom so powerful, researchers say, that if it strikes a human.....the human can die in two hours! The venomous spines are found on its back, which makes stepping on this fish very painful and deadly! It is important when visiting the ocean to be aware where you step! Frightening, huh? 

The body of a stonefish is very well camouflaged. They are usually brown or gray and sit very still, resembling a stone (rock)....this is where their name comes from. Some may have red, orange, and yellow body colors, blending in with the reef it lives in. They usually live in the Pacific, the Great Barrier Reef, or shallow reef waters from the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean. They are carnivores, eating on small fish and shrimp. 

Many aquariums have stonefish in their tanks, so hopefully that's the only run in you have with one! :-) Check out pictures of this scary, but cool creature:  

Sea Creature of the Week!!!!!

"The Sea Creature of the Week" 

The Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus 

 "Look! It's a dolphin!!!!" For anyone who has had an opportunity to visit any aquarium or water-related theme park, you have probably come across one of these cute creatures! The Bottlenose Dolphin is a very smart and social mammal, that loves to hang out in groups called "pods," with other dolphins. They have very smooth and sleek bodies, allowing them to swim up to 18 miles per hour!!! Being a mammal, like humans, they must breathe oxygen in order to live. How, you ask? They have a blowhole at the top of their heads, where air goes out (exhaled) and comes in (inhaled).

Pretty cool body part, huh?
Another cool fact about these creatures is that they communicate in a cool way....it's called Echolcation!  Dolphins make sounds underwater and wait until the sound echos back. We all have made an echo before! Well the cool thing about dolphins.....they are experts in echolocation! When the sound travels back they are able to tell where the sound came from and what the sound bounced off of. For example, if a dolphin clicks or makes a sound underwater, the clicking sound is sent off in one direction until it hits something. When it hits an object it bounces back to the dolphin. Dolphins then are able to tell where the sound came from and what it bounced off of! They are able to hunt for other fish this way! It also helps them find other dolphin friends/mates and even discover something cool in the ocean!!! I find dolphins to be one of the most adorable marine mammals! So much, I had to them in my wedding!!! :-) Check out some pictures of me and my husband and our dolphin friend!

Sea Creature of the Week!!!!!

"The Sea Creature of the Week" 

In regards to the start of a new school year.....

Schools of Fish

(Just to name a few...)

Sardines

Sardinops

Blue-lined Snappers

Lutjanus kasmira

Mackerel 

Scomber scombrus 

In honor of several students and teachers returning to schools, classes, colleges or any educational place I failed to mention....let's discuss "schools of fish!" 

Well....what is a school of fish? It's when several fish of the same kind, size, and age, group up and swim together!!! A big group of fish swimming in the same direction at the same time! Why, you may ask? Well, science researchers have found that schooling fish have several benefits! With more fish together, predators like sharks and bigger fish, are less likely to attack. It appears that its a larger fish rather than several smaller fish. Swimming in a group also helps fish swim better. It allows  them to use less oxygen and helps them swim longer because they are able to use less energy. So even if it's math, reading, science, or synchronized swimming....enjoy school...it has its benefits!!!! 

Blue-lined snapper

Mackerel 

Sardines 

Sea Creature of the Week....the past 2 Weeks!!! :-)

"The Sea Creature of the Week" 

Skipping a week for an awesome cross country tour...I had to bring you an awesome sea creature to make up for it! ;-) 

Giant Pacific Octopus

Enteroctopus dofleini

Just the name of this creature sounds big, doesn't it? GIANT!!!! Well I got the chance to see one of these creatures up close and it was AWESOME!!!!!!! Visiting the wonderful city of Seattle, Wa, I had an opportunity to tour the Seattle Aquarium! Great aquarium, showing all the diversity of the Pacific Ocean, in addition to an exhibit dedicated to the Giant Pacific Octopus!!! This creature gets its name from being bigger and living longer than any other of the octopus species. The average size is about 16 feet across and 110 pounds. However according to National Geographic, the record specimen was 30 feet across and weighed more than 600 pounds!!!!! Woooow!!!!! They are also known for their huge bubble-shaped heads which are usually a red-brown color. GPO's have a short life span, being only 4 years, both males and females. Like their octopus family, they have unique skin cells that allow them to change color to whatever color surrounds them. They are also very smart creatures! Lab studies have shown them opening jars and solving mazes! Aren't they intelligent?! :-) GPO's live from Alaska all the way down to southern California and even out in Japan. These are amazing creatures with GIANT brains! Check 'em out! 

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!*