Marine Biology

Hermit crabs of pet stores and ocean floors are not related to ‘true crabs.’ Living in the intertidal zone and tide pools in the beaches, these creatures have developed an adaptation of carrying as their home, a salvaged shell. As the hermit crab grows in size, it must seek another, larger shell and thus, abandon the one it currently resides in. This is how they earned this name as being a ‘hermit.’

Frequently adopted shells are those of sea snails, mollusks, -whatever they can find that suits them.

What You Lookin’ At?

There are over 500 species of hermit crabs know in the world, most of them are fully aquatic species that live under water. In the tropics however, several species of hermit crabs are terrestrial. These are the ones I am most interested in.

Hermit crabs (the terrestrial variety) in the wild prefer to exist in large groups. They do not seem to thrive well in colonies numbering les than one hundred individuals.

Ready, Set, Go!

Of the roughly 15 terrestrial types of hermit crabs in the world, just a small number of types are commonly found in the pet trade. These include the Caribbean Hermit Crab, the Ecuadorian Hermit Crab, “Coenobita clypeatus” being the most common, and several other species, which can be found and are gaining in popularity.

In Jamaica and Florida it is becoming common to see “Hermit Crab races” held as a sporting event. Crabs are placed in a center ring and whichever crab crosses the outer edge of the circle, is the winner. –Sounds pretty exciting to me, -something to do while watching the grass grow, maybe…

Hermit Crabs are not Goldfish - They Are Not Flushable

Not that I would ever consider flushing my child’s dead goldfish down the commode, but hermit crabs too were formerly thought of as the ‘throwaway pet’ because they only seemed to live for a few months in the home. But it has been shown that with proper care which includes emulating the natural environment from which the came, hermit crabs can live for many years. Some can thrive for 20 years or more and there are cases of some hermit crabs that have lived longer than 32 years!

Aww! It's a Baby Hermit Crab!

Oh C'mon! Isn't This Just So Cute! He's so tiny!

Most hermit crabs sold in pet stores are between the size of a large grape and a golf ball maybe. The golf ball-sized hermit crab is considered to be younger than ten years old so this is a general litmus test for determining age, when no other data is available.

The largest hermit crab that I ever saw was at a Trade Show in Niagara Falls, NY and that specimen was about the size of a cantaloupe melon! Very placid, this crab would come out the shell and ‘probe’ your hand, fingers, not the least bit afraid of revealing himself to the world. That venerable old crab was a spokesperson for Hermit Crabs everywhere and I have to admit, this was the very moment I decided that I liked hermit crabs.

The proprietor had several hundred hermit crabs for sale at this Trade Show, -all segregated by their different sizes. This particularly large one he claimed to have had as a pet for over twenty years! I didn’t ask, -but how could anyone sell a pet that they have had for twenty years? That would be like selling your college-age child! I could not imagine parting with a pet that I have cared for, for 20 years, and I sort of drifted away from his shop and his wares, feeling a bit embarrassed to even be considering buying this aged relic of a crab.

–How many times this crab has traded-up on a shell I could not even guess. I didn’t buy a Hermit Crab that particular weekend as I was not headed for home but away for a long weekend, but when I returned, I would consider then, whether or not to get a Hermit Crab for a pet. I think I bought a Ficus Bonsai Tree instead. They live a long time and are much less demanding than yet another pet.

Seahorse: the Wonderful World of the Miniature Water Ponies

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 07:33:49 PST

Seahorses, those little fantasy ponies of the World's oceans, they are a staple of every water fantasy and are amazing to see and weird to behold. Mystical and bizarre, their many shapes and forms are truly intriguing.

I have always loved seahorses, imagining them to be something from mythical Atlantis. Their alien bodies do not look Earth-like, if that makes any sense. And how bizarre it is, for it is the male seahorse that becomes pregnant! 89 of the 422 families of bony fish families of bony fish (this includes seahorses) exhibit parental care and nearly half of those (36 types) it is the male that exhibits the parental care of the babies. The male seahorse receives the eggs into his tummy pouch from the female where he fertilizes them, broods and in a few weeks, gives birth to live young! Yes, the male is the one that becomes 'pregnant.'

This looks like an ALIEN from space!

Pair-bonding occurs for most species of seahorses, exhibiting a monogamous relationship for an entire season and perhaps, for several seasons. Daily greeting rituals strengthen this bond as the mated pair dance and circle each other for several minutes each morning, before separating for the day. These ritualized morning greetings occur throughout the male’s pregnancy period and possible ensure readiness to re-copulate after giving live birth, sometimes, just hours after the birthing..

Living Coral? No, Its 'Hippocampus bargibanti,' -Another Seahorse

This type of seahorse looks as if it is turned inside-out! Weird, huh?

There are over 32 species of these creatures in the waters of the world. They prefer sheltered waters that have hiding places such as coral reefs, the tangle of mangrove roots and grass beds of the seas.

Found in many varying sizes ranging from just an inch up to nearly a foot long in some species, they come in many colors and shapes to match and conceal them within their environment.

Seahorses are territorial, with the males not ranging far from their chosen locale, generally, about one square meter of real estate. The females however, extend their ranging approximately one hundred times greater than their male counterpart’s territory.

Seadragon!

Some seahorse have body shapes that mimic their surrounding, like seaweeds and kelps, and others have coloration that more closely matches the reef corals of which they live. Because they are slow swimmers they need to be camouflaged well to maintain their safety.

A Pregnant Papa Seahorse Ready to give Birth

The male pregnancy last for 2 to 4 weeks and the temperature of the water seems to be a factor as the duration decreases with warmer waters. The number of babies the male expels varies among species but averages 100 to 200 individuals for most. Some species of seahorse can give birth to as many as 1500 fully formed babies, and as few as five or six baby seahorses at a time.

Threatened, Endangered and Over-Exploited

Seahorses are a commodity that we must preserve through better practices and conservation. This one does not appear to be alive. :(

These placid slow-swimming creatures are being threatened in their natural environment through accidental capture in nonselective fishing operations, habitat degradation and over-exploitation. The latter being for traditional medicines, tonic foods, and curiosities as in dried ornaments and displays sold in curio shops. Also, wild-caught seahorses are often sold in pet shops to marine hobbyists. The latter being the first, best way to change their habits; they should only buy ‘captive-raised’ seahorses from other reputable hobbyists and pet shops that only deal with legitimate producers. Seahorses can be prolific breeders if raised correctly, and there can be a steady supply of them for the pet trade if applied correctly.

Nudibranchs: Beautiful Animals You Never Knew About

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:05:52 PST

The Nudibranch is one type of Sea Slug, noted for its' beauty and.. well thats about it, because it isn't even a sea creature that a lot of people are aware of. These are soft bodied creatures, with no bones to force them into one shape or another, and they come in a massive variety of colors, most of which are bright. They are basically mollusks without the benefits of having shells. In size they are relatively small, the largest getting no bigger than 12 inches, or 31centimeters at full size, most being smaller than 4 inches or 10 centimeters. Pronounce it "Nude - a - brank"

Chromodoris coi

This particular one looks a bit like a lovely pastry in a French Shop, however one only has to look in tidal pools to find these tiny creatures, although they can be found anywhere in the oceans, they often use their colors and textures to camouflage in the coral reefs. The tones and colors on this animals are remarkable.

Glaucus alanticus

These Nudibranchs look like something from an alien film, I mean seriously have you ever even considered that we had things like this alive on our planet? Because I really don't think you did. You might say you did, but I doubt you did. You probably didn't and just think you did. They feed on poisonous jelly fish and store the poison for their own use.

Hypselodoris bullocki

Like something out of a space cartoon, this animal is interesting in shape and color. I just love the way its' tentacles are being swept backward, making it look like it is a little alien race car, but in fact the photo was taken against a strong current, which cause this charming appearance.

Nembrotha cristata

The colors on this particular critter are stunning, but so is this fact about them. They are hermaphrodites, being both male and female at the same time. They lay eggs and can fertilize themselves, but rarely do. Their lifespans vary, from one short month to about a year.

Phidiana indica

Although the photograph lacks the clarity of some of the other pictures, you can see how marvelous this animal is and admire it for the dainty appearance it has. One can imagine how small this animal is.
It is interesting to note as well that since they have no bones or shell, we have very little information on them in terms of evolution from the past.

Glossodoris atromarginata

Another one that looks like it could have come out of a French Pastry shop. I really like French Pastry, but I also like nudibranchs, although not suitable for eating. Now, you might be wondering what do they eat? As sweet and innocent as they appear, they are carnivores, as mentioned above, some even make a point of eating poisonous jelly fish. Occasionally they are canibalistic, but this is uncommon.

Ardeadoris egretta

This one is another beauty, almost translucent. Then again I have not seen what could be described as an ugly Nudibranch. I suppose these animals are lucky that their bodies are only soft tissue, otherwise man would surely have found a way to turn them into a wearable item.

Limacia cockerelli

This one looks a bit like a swimming lollipop stand, again this is not an animal most people would have thought already existed and probably would have figured it to be some alien creature from another world. The way these animals evolved to make them so diverse is a wonder unto itself.

Dirona albolineata

Well that covers my brief look at these wonderful animals that most people were not even aware of. If you live near the ocean I encourage you to poke around in the tidal pools and look for these little beings. When you do go looking for them consider this, there are already over 3000 identified species of Nudibranchs, but many more are being discovered daily, will you be the first to find a new species?

The first photograph, and the last two, were from Flickr, the others were from Wikimedia, you should check licensing agreements before reuse of any photos.

Science of the Caribbean Sea: Coral Reefs

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:38:38 PST

While many people enjoy swimming snorkeling, and other water activities in the Caribbean sea while they are on vacation, you will find that many people are not aware of the delicate ecosystem that lies on the ocean floor, just beneath their feet.

The Ecology Of The Caribbean Sea

The Caribbean sea is more that just a beautiful body of water. In its depths you will find 20 percent of the world's coral reefs. These reefs cover about 20,000 square miles. The majority of this space is located around the Central American coast, in the Caribbean sea. This is why the Caribbean is known to be a great diving destination.

Coral reefs are beautiful, but they also serve a large purpose in this ecosystem. Coral reefs support some of the most diverse species of fish and other ocean creatures in the world. But because coral reefs are so fragile, the warmer waters of the Caribbean sea have not been good for the coral. When the ocean water temperature exceeds 85 degrees any extended period of time, the plants that provide nutrition to the coral will begin to die off. When the coral cannot eat, the coral in the Caribbean sea cannot survive and will first begin to lose its color. Bleaching is becoming a big problem for coral in the Caribbean sea, and once it is bleached, it will not come back.

Not only is coral important to the Caribbean sea diving industry, it is also important to the fishing industry. The delicate ecosystem of the sea can easily get out of balance if just one species dies off. This will cause major impact on the Caribbean sea fishing industry. This in turn will do a whole lot of damage on the economy of these Caribbean coastal towns, if nothing is done to save the coral reefs.

What You Can Do To Help Save The Coral Reefs

So what can you do to protect the coral reefs in the Caribbean sea? While scientists work to protect this wonder of the world, you can do your own part by keeping your own pollution to a minimum. The factors of pollution and global warming are just part of the overall problem, but ever little bit can help to save the coral reefs. You can also go and see the coral reefs in order to get a picture of what they look like when they are healthy.

All pictures can be found on flickr.

Creatures of the Deep

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 05:53:24 PST

It's amazing how complex animals can be, especially creatures of the deep. How can they survive under such pressure or even in extreme temperatures? Some of the creatures are absolutely beautiful and some are right out of a horror movie. Most of what we know about the creatures of the deep have only been discovered within the last few decades. Who knows what else lurks in the mysterious deep of the waters. I'd like to specially thank Chan Lee Peng for the inspiration behind this article. For more information on bizarre animals of the deep, please visit his article Odd Looking Marine Animals (You Never Knew Existed) on www.darkroastedblend.com.

Pompeii Worm

Named after the ruined Roman city Pompeii after its destruction from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, this amazing worm is able to survive temperatures of up to 176 degrees Fahrenheit. They are found only by hydrothermal vents (fissures where heated water gushes out of). The worms can grow to be 5 inches long. They are “hairy” in nature, but the hair is actually colonies of bacteria. The bacteria acts as insulation. Scientists theorize that the bacteria could help the worms survive the extreme heat of the vents. The bacteria contain proteins, which provides protection. Not much is known since these worms are unable to survive decompression.

Pacific Bobtail Squid

The squid is a type of cuttlefish (a type of mollusk). Cuttlefish are actually not fish. They belong to the family of squid, octopus, and nautiluses. The cuttlefish have an internal shell, or cuttlebone (a gas-filled shell used for buoyancy). The bobtail occurs off New Zealand, and in the Nazca and Sala y Gomez. The mantle doesn't grow to be more than 1.5 inches. Their head and eyes are relatively large, while their arms are short.

Deepsea Lizardfish

They can be found at depths of 1600 to 11,000 feet. They are found in tropical and subtropical seas. It has a broad flattened head with a large broad mouth. The lower jaw juts out further than the top. Their jaws are covered with harpoon like teeth that are used to catch their prey. Even their tongues have teeth on them. They are known as ambush predator, waiting ever so patiently on the sea floor. When their prey comes swimming by, unbeknownst to them, the lizardfish grasps them with their jaws of death.

The Stoplight Loosejaw

This fish is an elongated compressed fish. The jaws are longer than it's skull. It has a coma-shaped photophore (a circular light-producing organ) under the eye, and one behind the eye. The photophores use red bioluminescence. This is advantageous for the fish since most creatures of the deep are unable to see red. Its lower mandibles can shoot forward to catch prey, dragging it back to its oral cavity where it can be consumed. It can live from the deep at 3200-13,000 feet. It can also live in open water from 667-3200 feet.

Deep-Sea Giant Spider

They can grow to be a foot across. They feed on hydroids and bryzoans (coral-like animals), sucking up their contents with huge-like proboscis. They are more abundant in the Antartic than anywhere else in the world. Cold temperatures and few predators attributes to their large growth. Their legs contain all their vital organs.

Killer Jellies

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 04:29:42 PST

Upon appearance, one wouldn't think these creatures were deadly. They're gelatinous looking with long streaming tentacles. They look like you could play with them. When they float in the water, they look angelic. But beneath that innocent exterior is a creature that is ready to embrace its victim with a deadly serenade. Some are so small that a swimmer doesn't even notice until the sting begins to turn into agonizing pain. Jellies, while beautiful, can be dangerous creatures that need to be recognized. There are 200 known species. Some only produce mild to severe stings, and discomfort, while only a few are known to be deadly.

Box Jellyfish (Chironex Fleckeri)

Chironex fleckeri are the largest of the box jellies, and are predominant throughout Australia. They are usually transparent and bell or cubed shaped with four distinct sides. This is where they get their name box jellyfish. They can be 20cm (7.9 inches) long on each side of the bell or cube, and have as many as 15 tentacles on each side, which can be 3 meters (9.84 feet) in length. It can contain up to 5,000 nematocysts (stinging cells). Unless the sting from one of these jellies is treated immediately, survival is minimal. The pain is unbearably excruciating and most victims go into shock, and drown if swimming alone. They can have an effect on the heart due to cardio toxins, damage to the nerves from neurotoxin, and dermatonecrotic effects (skin damage). Some victims who have been entangled in more than 3 feet of the box jellyfish's tentacles can experience cardiac arrest. The tentacles can stick to the skin and continually release venom if not treated. Severe stings can even cause necrosis of the stung area. Over 50 deaths from these jellies have been the cause of death in Australia.

Irukandji (Carukia Barnesi)

These jellies are about the size of a thumbnail, and are highly venomous. A man by he name of Hugo Flecker began noticing that patients of his were experiencing nausea, back pain, burning sensations on the skin, headaches, vomiting, restlessness, elevated blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, and abdominal cramps. The collective symptoms were coined Irukandji (an indigenous tribe of Cairns, Australia) syndrome. He was unable to identify the jellyfish. Nearly 10 years later a physician, Jack Barnes, suspected a small box jellyfish was the culprit. He tested his theory by allowing himself, his nine-year-old son, and a lifeguard to get stung. The symptoms occurred on all three. Unlike most jellyfish, the Irukandji has stingers not only on their tentacles, but also on is bell. So far only 2 deaths have occurred from their stings, but some deaths have possibly been wrongly attributed to other ailments rather than from the sting of the Irukandji. It is possible that people who are stung by these jellyfish can suffer brain hemorrhages or heart failure.

Chiropsalmus Quadrigatus

It is another type of box jelly, closely related to the Chironex fleckeri (a cousin if you will). In Japan it is known as the Habu-kurage (sea wasp). It's predominant through the tropical Pacific region. It has also been responsible for three fatal cases from stings in Japan. While antivenin has been created to ward off the sting of the box jellies, in most cases, it is of no use, because the amount of time it takes to go from the site of the sting, to the hospital takes too long. By then, the attacked victim will have swatted or tried to pull off the jelly. The tentacles will have released its toxin, and if the tentacles stay on the victim, the stinging cells can still pulse venom into the victim's body. Panic can increase the heart rate further spreading the venom, and more quickly, thus resulting in death.

Malo Kingi

Malo kingi is one of several Irukandji jellyfish, and was named after its victim Robert King. He was an American tourist swimming off the coast of Queensland, Australia. Although he was the first, it is unknown how many other people could have been possible victims, especially in the Philippines since they don't have death certificates. It has been noted that it isn't unusual for there to be 20-30 deaths a year from the Irukandji in the Philippines. The Malo kingi has earned the 8th rank in the top 10 species of 2008 by the International Institute for Species Exploration.

Monster Leviathans: The Planet’s Largest Freshwater Fish That You Probably Didn’t Know About

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 02:02:03 PST

When considering day fishing at our favorite fishing holes, generally we catch fish not bigger than 60 to 75 pounds on a rod and reel. Larger fish are always possible using a trotline or net in deeper water or along river channels. Usually, the majority of us catch hand size bluegill bream, slab crappie, largemouth bass, carp, or catfish (best chance to catch a large fish).

In the United States of America, there are some pretty large freshwater fish lurking the deeps of thousands of miles of rivers, deep lakes, ghostly swamps and the endless tributaries that are the life support of healthy rivers. There are bigger and more formidable freshwater fish prowling the freshwater basins in the more remote parts of the world. Monstrous fish, so huge that some of them are as big as the cars that we drive and others so aggressive that they could possibility swallow a man whole, if they were hungry enough.

Let's take a look together at the Monster Leviathans: “The Planet's Largest Freshwater Fish That You Probably Didn't Know About” and thank our lucky stars that we haven't come face-to-face with one of these monsters at our favorite fishing or swimming hole.

Arapaima

The Arapaima (as known as the “Paiche”) is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world reaching lengths up to 14 ¾ feet and weighing as much as 440 lbs. A native fish to the Amazon, these fish are commonly raised in commercial farm ponds, because of its delicious meat and protein many poor rural regions of the Amazon can easily obtain.

Mekong Giant Catfish

The Mekong Giant Catfish is considered the most endangered fish in Southeast Asia and in a last ditch attempt to save the fish from complete extinction, the World Conservation Union has classified the Mekong Giant Catfish as critically endangered making it a crime to harvest. The Mekong Giant Catfish can grow to more than 660 pounds in the Cambodian Mekong River Basin and grow to lengths as big as a Volkswagen.

Giant White Sturgeon

The Giant White Sturgeon is a freshwater prehistoric looking fish with sweet meat that is considered to be a delicacy in many parts of the world. Found mainly in the Yangtze River in China, the Giant While Sturgeon can reach lengths of exceeding 12 feet and weigh more than 950 pounds. There have been some documented cases in which Giant White Sturgeons have been caught by sports fishermen weighing in at more than 1,100 pounds and nearing 16 feet in length.

Chinese Paddlefish

Image Source

The Chinese Paddlefish are considered one of the planet's largest freshwater fish, which are found in the Yangtze River in China. These fish are quickly disappearing and quiet frankly, the scientists are scratching their heads as to the reason why, but commercial fishing and pollution are two possible reasons as to why. The Chinese Paddlefish can grow to more than 1000 lbs and reach lengths of 23-feet or greater. Everything is bigger in China.

Giant Stingray

The Giant Stingray found mostly in the river basins of Cambodia and China, but are found in other freshwaters throughout Asia, can grow up to 5 meters (16.4 feet) in length and weigh as much as 1,100 lbs. Just like with other stingray species, the Giant Stingray has a sharp, deadly spear-like barb at the tip of its tail that can be used to defend itself with a potentially deadly outcome.

Bull Shark

The Bull Shark is considered to be one of the most dangerous sharks in the world, because it can survive both in the salt waters of the oceans and the brackish and freshwaters of inland rivers and tributaries. The Bull Shark can grow to 500 lbs and reach lengths of nearly 12 feet. They have been known to attack and kill humans. This type of shark is found in the Ganges River basin of India, the Mississippi River Basin in North America, the Amazon River in Peru, and in Lake Nicaragua in Central America.

Northern River Shark (Glyphis sp. C.)

The Northern River Shark is only known to inhabit the Adelaide and Alligator River systems in the Northern Territory of Australia, but the numbers are apparently on the decline due to heavy fishing and environmental toxins. The Northern River Shark can reach 2 to 3 meters in length and have rows razor-sharp teeth, just like its saltwater cousins.

Alligator Gar

The Alligator Gar can reach weights up to 300 pounds and are commonly found long the Mississippi River basin of North America, but can be found in lakes and other rivers that connect with the Mississippi River. The larger fish can grow to lengths greater than six-foot and there have been reported attacks on humans, but most are believed to have been accidental attacks as the fish probably mistaken hands and feet as food. Alligator Gar have razor-sharp needle-like teeth filling the short snout and armor-like scales covering its body.

Blue Catfish

The Blue Catfish is closely related to the channel catfish and are found in rivers and reservoirs throughout North America, northern Guatemala east of the Appalachians. These fish have been documented to grow up to 150 pounds, but some legends exist that the Blue Catfish can reach weighs up to 350 pounds, but there hasn't ever been a Blue Catfish scientifically documented in that size category.

Giant Carp