Blue Dragon by Bill Via Flickr: Olympus digital camera
Source: flickr.com
Ocean Fact!
A mouthful of seawater may contain millions of bacterial cells, hundreds of thousands of phytoplankton and tens of thousands of zooplankton.
seashell-art
(via Pharyngula)
A chambered nautilus being fed by hand
“A certain deep, primal part of my brain went “Squeeee!” at this video of a nautilus being fed by hand. I want one. I want a cephalopod to be my friend. But sorry, people, taking an exotic animal out of the ocean and confining it to an aquarium is not exactly the friendliest thing to do…and a lot of cephalopods are finicky and delicate.“ — Biology professor & cephalopod enthusiast PZ Meyers
Source: freethoughtblogs.com
The moray eel is a large species of eel found in warm and temperate waters all around the world. There are around 200 different species that can range in size from just 10cm long to nearly 2 meters in length.
The moray eel is a relatively secretive animal, spending much of its time hiding in holes and crevices amongst the rocks and coral on the ocean floor. By spending the majority of their time hiding, moray eels are able to remain out of sight from predators and are also able to ambush any unsuspecting prey that passes.
Due to the small size of the gills, morays have to continuously open and close their mouths in a gaping fashion to maintain a flow of water and facilitate respiration.
via: a-z-animals // Photo 1: Robert Palmer // Photo 2: Mike Gerrie
I just wanted to say sorry that I spammed your feed probably and I want to further apologize for any future spamming I might do. All the pictures and articles are just so perfect!
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sharks!
Almost any shark 1.8 m or longer is a potential danger, but three species have been identified repeatedly in fatal bites: great whites, tigers, and bull sharks. All three are found worldwide, reach large sizes and eat large prey such as marine mammals or sea turtles. More bites on swimmers, free divers, scuba divers, surfers and boats have been reported for the great white shark than for any other species. However, some 80% of all shark bites probably occur in the tropics and subtropics, where other shark species dominate and great white sharks are relatively rare.
via: marinebio.org
Mauisaurus was one of the biggest plesiosaurs still swimming at the end of the Cretaceous period, attaining lengths of close to 60 feet from head to tail (though a fair proportion of this was taken up by its long, slender neck, a typical plesiosaur feature). Because it's one of the few dinosaur-era fossils to be discovered in New Zealand, Mauisaurus has been featured there on an official postage stamp.
via: dinosaurs.about.com // photos via: toptenz
A graceful creature of the seafloor, this orange sea pen resembles a plump, old-fashioned quill pen. Its colors range from dark orange to yellow to white. Each sea pen is a colony of polyps (small anemonelike individuals) working together for the survival of the whole. The primary polyp loses its tentacles and becomes the stalk of the sea pen, with a bulb at its base—the bulb anchors the sea pen in the muddy or sandy bottom. The various secondary polyps form the sea pen's branches and have specialized functions.
via: Monterey Bay Aquarium // Photo 1: National Geographic
Why Is Octopus Blood Blue?
The pigment that gives the octopus blood its blue color, hemocyanin, is responsible for keeping the species alive at extreme temperatures. Hemocyanin is a blood-borne protein containing copper atoms that bind to an equal number of oxygen atoms. It's part of the blood plasma in invertebrates.
Octopuses have three hearts and need more oxygen than most other invertebrates, so the hemocyanin allows octopuses to get a steady oxygen supply, even when it isn't readily available in their environment. It also ensures that they survive in temperatures that would be deadly for many creatures, ranging from temperatures as low as 28 degrees Fahrenheit (negative 1.8 degrees Celsius) to superheated temperatures near the ocean's thermal vents.
via: how stuff works // Photo: Dani Barchana
Since 1950, 90% of fish stocks have fallen and only 10% of all large fish remain! Small changes can make a huge difference! This app is really great in informing consumers which seafood is most damaging and harmful to remove from the environment! Try to find your favorite seafood and get informed! Thank you guys!
